Overview

• Regional FSB officers in Kemerovo detained a local resident during active synthesis, seizing over 38.6 kilograms of mephedrone, more than 1.5 tonnes of precursors, a reactor and other equipment, with the suspect placed in pretrial custody under articles 30(3) and 228.1(5) of the Criminal Code.
• Authorities say the production cell was part of an interregional group spanning Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions as well as Altai and Krasnoyarsk, allegedly organized by a Ukrainian criminal community.
• Security services report three drug laboratories shut this year with total seizures exceeding 88.5 kilograms of plant‑based and synthetic narcotics plus 3.8 tonnes of precursors.
• In a related case, a Novosibirsk court sentenced two Latvian nationals to nine years and six months each after they produced more than 54 kilograms of mephedrone in a rented garage and admitted guilt.
• Two Kemerovo residents were detained while retrieving a stash arranged by foreign nationals, with investigators alleging they planned to sell over five kilograms in the region and opening a case for attempted large‑scale distribution.