Director of a colony from Mykolaiv region caught with cannabis in his pocket

In Mykolaiv region, a colony director was tried for using cannabis. He hid it and carried it with him to work. The court fined the official, and the drugs were seized.

This is evidenced by the ruling of the Voznesensk City District Court of Mykolaiv Oblast.

The director of a branch of Voznesenskaya penal colony No. 72 was fined for illegal drug possession. As the court found, one autumn morning last year, the accused found wild cannabis plants growing on the bank of the Mertvovod River near the food and flavor factory in Voznesensk. He cut off the leaves and inflorescences, took them to his house, where he dried and crushed the drug.

Already on April 17, 2025, the director of the colony came to work with a power bank, inside of which, in the inner pocket of his jacket, was a package of cannabis. Due to his official authority, he had unimpeded access to the territory of the institution. However, during the inspection in the care room, the staff of the institution checked the power bank and found a polymer package with a narcotic substance of plant origin.

The police seized the substance. The court found the official guilty of committing a criminal offense under Part 1 of Art. 309 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - illegal manufacture, purchase and storage of drugs without the purpose of sale. In sentencing, the court took into account the defendant's sincere repentance, positive character, lack of criminal record, complete higher education, and the fact that he is not registered with a narcologist or psychiatrist.

The court fined him UAH 17,000 and ordered him to pay UAH 1,782 in forensic costs. The power bank itself will be returned to the owner, and the drug substance will be destroyed. The verdict can be appealed within 30 days.

Also, in the Mykolaiv pre-trial detention center, an internal service sergeant was caught by law enforcement officers when he tried to smuggle drugs and psychotropic substances for one of the prisoners for a reward. It all started in 2024, when the inspector met the prisoner while on duty, and he offered to smuggle drugs for money - and he agreed.

Анна Бальчінос