On 19 October 2026 the Lviv regional prosecutor’s office and Lviv region police said they had stopped a group of seven people who grew cannabis and kept it for sale.[1][2]
From May to October 2026, four men aged 53, 56, 59 and 63 set up a plantation of almost 1.8 hectares in the Trostianets community of Stryi district, which Pika places in the village of Lub’yana.[1][2] They cleared the ground, put in irrigation and used fertiliser and growth stimulants.[1] A second plot, of 0.038 hectares, was in a gardening association near Lviv, which Pika names as Solonka, where three of the suspects lived.[1][2]
The other three were a family: a 46-year-old man, his 44-year-old wife and their 19-year-old son, a student at a Lviv college.[1][2] Investigators say they handled wholesale and retail sales, including shipments to other regions of Ukraine.[1]
Officers searched 14 places, the plots and the suspects’ homes.[1][2] On the plantation they found 30 cannabis plants, and in all they seized more than 30 kg of cannabis packed in bags, boxes, wraps, plastic containers and jars.[1] Pika described the plant seizure as dozens of plants.[2] They also took five vehicles, a Mercedes-Benz, a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, a Skoda Yeti, a Renault Kangoo and an Opel, plus scales, vacuum sealers, phones and notes.[1][2] The cash was almost 760,000 hryvnias, more than 5,800 US dollars, 920 euros, 1,350 zlotys and 600 pounds.[1][2] The prosecutor’s office put the value of the plant material at up to 15 million hryvnias.[1][2] 032.ua said the plantation was destroyed.[1]
All seven were detained and notified of suspicion of acquiring and storing narcotics for sale in an especially large amount, acting together, and of sowing and growing cannabis.[1][2] 032.ua said they face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.[1] The pre-trial investigation was continuing.[1][2]