Throughout history soldiers have used drugs, sometimes to fight better or to stay alert, or perhaps to help cope with the extreme psychological situation and trauma they are faced with. The current conflict in Ukraine is no different.
Concerns around this led to the Ukrainian parliament passing a new law that authorizes random drug and alcohol tests on soldiers. Organized crime is nothing if not adaptable, even in this most extreme environment. The soldiers fighting to protect their homeland represent a new and relatively wealthy market, ripe for criminal networks to exploit. And they are doing just that.
So who is behind this market? This is a story about war, drugs, the darknet and corruption.
Speaker(s):
Ted
Sasha
Additional Reading:
(GI Paper) New front lines: Organized criminal economies in Ukraine in 2022
Business Insider - Russian lawmakers baselessly claim their army is up against biologically modified Ukrainian super soldiers
LiveScience - Nazis Dosed Soldiers with Performance-Boosting 'Superdrug'
History - G.I.s’ Drug Use in Vietnam Soared—With Their Commanders’ Help
The Atlantic - The Drugs That Built a Super Soldier
Journeyman Pictures - Sierra Leone's Cocaine-Drugged Child Soldiers
Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - Lebanon’s role in Syria’s Captagon trade
Washington Post - Zelensky takes on Ukraine’s top internal enemy
Legatum Institute - Looting Ukraine: The East, the West and the Corruption of a Country (Full Version)
Transparency International - Corruption Perceptions Index
US DoJ Press release - Justice Department Investigation Leads to Shutdown of Largest Online Darknet Marketplace
Chainalysis - OFAC Sanctions Hydra Following Law Enforcement Shutdown of the Darknet Market, As Well As Russian Exchange Garantex
National Institute on Drug Abuse - Synthetic Cathinones ("Bath Salts") DrugFacts
UNIAN.info - SBU busts major drug lab in Kyiv region in raid against local branch of int'l drug cartel
Kyiv Post - Authorities bust cocaine hidden in banana freight container in Odesa port
The Institute of Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatric Examination and Drug Monitoring of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine - Report on drug situation in Ukraine 2020
Kyiv Post - NABU to serve notice of suspicion on SBU Deputy Chief Demchyna
Slate - Ransomware Goes to Business School - Good customer service has become a key part of a lucrative scam
US DoJ Press Release - Colorado Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Moderating Disputes on Darknet Marketplace AlphaBay
News.pn - Chopped fingers, millions of dollars and gold bars »: SBU told details about the largest drug cartel
Служба безпеки України (SBU) - CБУ блокувала діяльність «підрозділу» міжнародного наркосиндикату «Хімпром» (SBU blocked the activities of the "unit" of the international drug syndicate "Khimprom")
Forbes - The U.S. And Allies Go After Crypto Exchange And Russian Money Laundering
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) - Dubai Uncovered: Data Leak Exposes How Criminals, Officials, and Sanctioned Politicians Poured Money Into Dubai Real Estate
SBU - ДБР жорстко протидіє спробам розповсюдження наркотиків в прифронтових районах
Artwork by Paulina Rosol-Barrass
