Under the procedural guidance of regional and district prosecutors, in cooperation with units of the criminal police and investigators of the Main Departments of the National Police in the regions, the first stage of the nationwide special operation "Gentlemen" has been conducted. Its goal is to identify and neutralize criminal groups involved in the illegal trafficking of cannabis on the territory of Ukraine.

On August 5-6, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted nearly 130 searches in 20 regions of the country, destroyed over 21,000 bushes of narcotic plants (hemp and opium poppy), dismantled 4 underground drug laboratories, and seized 57 kg of cannabis, 8 vehicles, weapons, explosives, and cash amounting to 425,000 UAH.

According to preliminary estimates, from the seized raw materials, the perpetrators could have produced about 4.2 tons of finished narcotic products, which amounts to approximately 4.2 million doses. At illegal market prices, this exceeds 200 million hryvnias.

As part of the special operation, 9 individuals were detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. 14 individuals have been notified of suspicion under Part 2, 3 of Article 307 and Part 2 of Article 310 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal production and sale of narcotic substances, illegal sowing and cultivation of narcotic plants). After the completion of the examinations, the issue of notifying other participants of suspicion will be resolved.