Experience and Current State in Counteracting Drug Crime in Ukraine

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the previous experience and current state in countering drug crime in Ukraine, to study the stages of formation and reform of drug crime counteraction units, to identify further directions for improving the activities of the bodies and units of the National Police of Ukraine in the fight against illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors. Methodology. To study the problems, general and special legal methods were used: comparative and legal, systemic and structural and systemic analysis, methods of scientific knowledge, the use of which is determined by the purpose and objectives of the study. Scientific novelty. The article analyzes the historical preconditions for the formation and the current state of development of units for countering drug crime. A number of theoretical and practical conceptual issues, provisions and conclusions are substantiated that can be useful in the implementation of reforming units for combating drug crime. The article analyzes the legal and regulatory framework governing the professional activities of workers in drug-crime counteraction units. Problematic aspects of prevention and investigation of crimes related to drug trafficking, drug prevention have been studied. In particular, the development of messengers, with the ability to encrypt user data, has led to the fact that over the past few years, drug retail has almost completely gone digital. Each update of such messengers complicates the work of law enforcement agencies due to the use of the latest methods of encrypting information and increasing the level of anonymity of participants in communication. The drawbacks of the current legislation in countering drug trafficking are highlighted. In particular, attention is focused on the lack of effective regulation at the legislative level of mechanisms for blocking or restricting access to Internet resources through which drug trafficking is spread or where there is prohibited content. In addition, criminals are actively making payments for illegal drug transactions, using new ways of relations between the seller and the buyer, for example, they legalize funds derived from crime through operations with crypto currency, with their subsequent placement in offshore companies. It is determined that a special place in the field of combating drug addiction and drug crime is occupied by legal measures that create organizational grounds for improving the activities of professional units of the National Police of Ukraine. Conclusions. Improving the policy in the field of combating drug crime is one of the priority areas of activity of the state authorities and law enforcement agencies of Ukraine. The fight against drug addiction and drug crime is a complex and multi-level process that requires significant efforts, confident and decisive actions. New methods of illegal sale of drugs and modern methods of concealing the facts of involvement in criminal activity are used by offenders, affect the structure and dynamics of crime in Ukraine, which, in turn, necessitates revision the norms of the current legislation of Ukraine and bringing them into line with modern requirements. Units of the National Police of Ukraine are taking active measures to identify online drug traffickers, monitoring and analyzing their messages, conducting operational-search activities aimed at establishing the whereabouts of persons involved in the illegal distribution of drugs. The structure of such groups, which is mostly large and branched, complicates the documentation and prosecution of perpetrators, and the organizers of this business are mostly outside Ukraine. When reforming drug crime units, a system-functional approach should be applied, which will make it possible to optimize their tasks, functions, structure, logistical, organizational, legal and personnel support.

Keywords: opposition; drug crime; reforming; marketing; drugs; drug prevention; the police; professional activity.