In Vinnytsia, the winner of the school chemistry Olympiads created a drug laboratory with millions in profits
A court in Vinnytsia sentenced a man to 9 years in prison for organizing a large-scale drug laboratory with millions in profits. The former winner of school chemistry competitions used his knowledge to create illegal production. During searches, police seized more than 20 kilograms of psychotropic drugs, hundreds of kilograms of precursors, and professional laboratory equipment. The court also ordered the confiscation of all his property, reported the Vinnytsia region police communications department.
The name of the convicted person is not officially disclosed, however, according to data of the publication “We Vinnytsia People”, it is Dmytro Polhuly.
The 27-year-old resident of the city organized the production and sale of psychotropic substances on a large scale. He set up a laboratory in a private house, where he manufactured prohibited substances. To eliminate the underground business, law enforcement officers conducted a special operation with the participation of KORD and SBU fighters. During the searches, more than 20 kg of psychotropic substances, more than 100 kg of precursors, about 300 kg of chemical reagents, packaging materials, cash, bank cards, a laptop, phones, a car, and laboratory equipment were found.
The investigation was conducted by the Vinnytsia District Police Department under the procedural guidance of the District Prosecutor’s Office, with the participation of the Drug Crime Control Department and the SBU. The court found the accused guilty of illegal production and sale of psychotropic substances on a large scale (Part 3 of Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), storage of precursors (Part 3 of Article 311 of the Criminal Code), illegal appropriation of equipment for a drug laboratory (Part 3 of Article 313 of the Criminal Code) and organization of a place for the production and use of psychotropic substances (Part 2 of Article 317 of the Criminal Code). For the totality of the crimes, the court sentenced him to 9 years in prison with confiscation of all property.
In March 2025, law enforcement officers liquidated a drug laboratory located in a two-story building in the private sector of Vinnytsia. Amphetamine, alpha-PVP and mephedrone were produced there. According to the police, the organizer ran a Telegram channel for contactless sales, receiving approximately 500 thousand hryvnias per month.
Sales took place both within the region and beyond its borders – through bookmarks and postal items, with payments in cryptocurrency and to bank cards. The cost of the seized substances, precursors and equipment at “black market” prices is estimated at about 20 million hryvnias.
Prosecutors proved the fact of illegal acquisition and storage of equipment and precursors, as well as independent production of more than 20 kg of PVP for the purpose of further sale. Experts confirmed that the seized substance contains a particularly dangerous psychotropic substance.
On October 26, 2025, the Vinnytsia City Court found him guilty. Dmytro is a graduate of Lyceum No. 35, winner of city and regional chemistry competitions. After school, he studied at a local university, but used his knowledge to organize illegal production.
In court, he fully admitted his guilt and sincerely repented. The court took this into account as a mitigating circumstance, along with his assistance to the investigation and his desire to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, he was sentenced to imprisonment with the confiscation of all property — in particular, a Toyota RAV4 car, a laptop, phones, cash, and crypto assets. According to the court’s decision, laboratory equipment and chemicals are to be destroyed, and more than 620 thousand hryvnias will be recovered from the convict in favor of the state to cover the costs of examinations.
