Court to try organiser of 942 kg kratom smuggling in Bukovina

Large-scale smuggling detected at the border

Criminal proceedings have begun in Chernivtsi Oblast against a 43-year-old man. He is accused of importing nearly a tonne of a substance whose circulation is restricted in Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the offender attempted to disguise the cargo by presenting it as matcha tea.

Logistics scheme for the shipment

According to the investigation, the cargo was initially delivered from South-East Asia to Romania. It was from there that the defendant organised its further movement into Ukraine.

Two minibus drivers were involved for this purpose. They were told they were transporting matcha tea. The organiser himself travelled in a separate vehicle.

In one instance, the cargo was accompanied by documents marked "MATCHA TEA" (matcha tea), while in another, part of the goods was hidden among parcels and bags.

Stop at the border crossing

On 11 August 2026, at the "Porubne-Siret" border crossing point, the drivers selected the non-stop mode of passage ("green corridor").

However, during the customs inspection, officers of the Chernivtsi Customs Directorate discovered 30 boxes, inside which there were 195 packages containing green powder.

Expertise results and charges

Expert examination established that this was ground leaves of the plant Mitragyna speciosa (kratom). The total mass of the detected substance exceeded 942 kilograms.

In Ukraine, the circulation of this substance is restricted. The man is charged with smuggling of narcotic drugs in especially large quantities under Part 3 of Article 305 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

If found guilty, he faces up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The indictment has already been sent to the court.

In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent until their guilt is proven by a guilty verdict of the court.