Ukraine cracks down on arms trafficking with major arrests
The Ukrainian police announced they conducted 700 searches and arrested 22 individuals as part of an investigation into illegal arms and ammunition trafficking.
"The suspects were found in possession of thousands of rounds of various calibres, assault rifles, grenades, machine guns, and grenade launchers," the police stated.
This is part of a broader operation against a network of arms dealers who obtained weapons from Russian soldiers on the battlefield. In video footage released by law enforcement, officers can be seen forcing doors open, and securing ammunition and cash.
The statement noted that the suspects could face up to seven years in prison.
In September of last year in Kyiv, weapons and explosives worth over £32,000 were seized. The previous month, suspects were arrested in western Ukraine for arms trafficking, resulting in the seizure of 20 assault rifles, over 70 pistols, dozens of grenades, and nearly 49,000 rounds of ammunition.
