Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies uncover second criminal group in “Carthage” operation
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies said on 4 November that they had uncovered a second criminal organization during the “Carthage” operation. Allegedly, it linked senior officials from the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office to drug trafficking, fraudulent call centres, currency counterfeiting, kidnapping and torture.
Pontos principais
- NABU and SAP announced the second group’s exposure on 4 November 2026.
- Investigators allege the group combined law-enforcement officials with members of the criminal world.
- SBU Major General Serhii Duka and National Police officer Volodymyr Tsenov were detained on 4 November.
- Three people formally named by NABU worked in the SBU and National Police.
- The group allegedly operated a workshop producing counterfeit euro banknotes.
- Members allegedly trafficked drugs through the U420 retail network and engaged in kidnapping and torture.
- Members discussed attacking journalist-investigator Denys Bigus with acid.
- Investigators searched the homes of senior SBU and National Police officials; Andrii Rubel was not detained.
Porque é importante
The allegations connect serious alleged crimes with personnel from several Ukrainian law-enforcement and prosecution bodies. They also expose a potential threat to journalists and public-interest investigators, while searches at senior officials’ homes indicate a substantial expansion of the operation’s reach.
O que aconteceu
NABU and SAP said they had uncovered a second criminal organization while investigating the “Carthage” operation, which began with the exposure of another group in early September. According to investigators, the second organization brought together officials from the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office with members of the criminal world. Its alleged activities included drug distribution through U420 shops, support for fraudulent call centres, production of counterfeit euro banknotes, kidnapping and torture on order in Ukraine and abroad.
NABU and SAP identified several participants under code names. Serhii Duka, known as “Akim”, was a Major General and deputy head of the SBU’s national security protection department; Volodymyr Tsenov, known as “Price”, was a senior National Police strategic investigations official; and Oleksandr Demyanchuk, known as “Consultant”, was a deputy department head in the National Police’s criminal investigations unit. Duka and Tsenov were detained on 4 November. Investigators also identified suspected organiser Andrii Osypov, code name “Criminal”, and Russian citizen Yegor Levchenko, also known as Burkin, who allegedly founded the drug network.
The investigation also reached senior security and police officials. NABU searched the home of SBU internal security chief Anton Kravchuk and the home of Andrii Rubel, the former head of the National Police’s Strategic Investigations Department. Rubel was not detained.
Como o descrevem as fontes ucranianas
Ukrainian reporting focuses on alleged links between the organization and officials from the SBU, National Police and Prosecutor General’s Office. Coverage also details the alleged crimes, participants’ code names, arrests and searches, as well as threats against journalist Denys Bigus.
Contexto
The “Carthage” operation began with the exposure of a first criminal organization in early September. That group allegedly operated inside the Prosecutor General’s Office, supported call centres in return for improper benefits and laundered unlawfully obtained funds. The investigation remains pre-trial: authorities said they are gathering evidence and conducting investigative actions before preparing indictment documents and sending the case to court.