Poland's police break up online drug ring trafficking fentanyl, morphine

Poland’s Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime, a national police unit specialising in online crime, has dismantled an organised criminal group that distributed narcotic drugs online, including fentanyl and morphine, detaining 16 people, prosecutors said on Monday.

Officers also detained a 46-year-old accused of committing other sexual acts against five children ages 3 to 9 from families he knew; seized recordings allegedly show him engaging in sexual acts with a boy of about 10. Another suspect is accused of inciting a mother to have sexual intercourse with her then-9-year-old son and to commit other sexual

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Police said the arrests were made during eight operations carried out in October and early December. Four of the suspects were identified as ringleaders of a group that trafficked large quantities of narcotic medicines.

Officers seized more than 150,000 tablets and ampoules, including drugs containing fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone and alprazolam, as well as anabolic and doping agents. They also confiscated more than 2 kg of mephedrone and several dozen rounds of ammunition.

Investigators said the group operated across multiple regions, using the darknet, classified advertising portals and encrypted messaging services. Distribution relied on courier companies, which were used to ship narcotic medicines and cash, bypassing the banking system and anti-money laundering controls.

Among those detained are a doctor from eastern Poland accused of issuing more than 1,500 fraudulent prescriptions in exchange for financial benefits, and a married couple from western Poland alleged to have distributed more than 660 packages of fentanyl, nearly 2,200 packages of oxycodone and over 600 packages of morphine.

Suspects also include business owners and a clergyman from central Poland. One individual is accused of exporting oxycodone-based medicines to the Netherlands, police said.

Authorities said a key element of the investigation was the arrest of a married couple from eastern Poland who allegedly sent more than 11,000 parcels containing illegal pharmaceutical products over more than five years. Large quantities of medicines sourced from Poland and outside the European Union were seized from rented storage facilities, along with 26 parcels prepared for shipment.

In early December, police also detained a 45-year-old man from western Poland accused of leading the organised criminal group, trafficking significant quantities of narcotics and laundering money.

Police seized cash, jewellery, luxury watches, four premium cars and three properties with a combined value exceeding PLN 2,200,000. Prosecutors also froze bank accounts holding nearly PLN 500,000. Financial analysis showed turnover on accounts linked to the suspects ran into several million zlotys.

Twelve suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors said the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are possible. 

(tf)

Source: PAP