Carthage Case: NABU and SAPO Release 54-Minute Audio Recordings and Conduct Searches at the SBU

On November 4, 2026, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) released new 54-minute audio recordings regarding the high-profile "Carthage" case. According to the anti-corruption agencies, the recordings demonstrate the exposure of a criminal organization that, according to the investigation, operated in Ukraine for years under the protection of officials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the Prosecutor General's Office, and the National Police. On the same day, November 4, detectives and prosecutors conducted searches of several SBU officials.

The Scheme Under Law Enforcement Cover

According to NABU, the syndicate included at least 12 individuals, among them active officials from the SBU, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the National Police. The investigation indicates that the organization could operate unhindered thanks to agreements with law enforcement officers, to whom members paid $7,000 monthly in cryptocurrency; detectives report that $3.75 million passed through one of the crypto wallets. The operation allegedly encompassed 52 fraudulent call centers employing about 2,700 people, as well as drug trafficking, an underground counterfeit euro workshop, sales of contraband cigarettes, and U-420 psychotropic mixtures. According to NABU, law enforcement officials gave advance warnings about state inspections, helped resolve issues in courts, and provided access to municipal CCTV cameras; seized equipment was returned through the bribery of Pechersk Court judges, and members allegedly planned to bribe ministers.

Key Figures

According to the investigation, the organization was created by a man with the alias "Criminal" — an individual with a criminal past who has been convicted three times. As previously reported by Ukrainska Pravda sources, this is likely Andriy Osipov. His main partner, according to NABU, was a fugitive Russian national known as "Mexican" — the founder and leader of the transnational drug cartel "Khimprom," who allegedly fled to Russia after being put on a Russian wanted list in 2016 and has been on the Ukrainian wanted list since 2019.

Abductions, Torture, and Threats to Journalists

A separate line of investigation concerns abductions, contract torture, and extortion: in certain episodes, the investigation claims, victims were extorted for up to $5 million. To conduct surveillance, organization members reportedly used the "Safe City" camera system and MIA databases. The new recordings reveal that following a Bihus.Info investigation, the suspects discussed abducting journalist Denys Bihus abroad or attacking him with acid, and also planned to physically threaten blogger Igor Lachenkov (owner of the Telegram channel "Lachen Pishes") and the ProKyiv media outlet. Furthermore, "Mexican" and "Criminal," according to the investigation, discussed beating or dousing with acid a Mariupol defender (who survived Russian captivity) who intended to shut down U420 shops.

Links to the FSB and Fabrication of Cases Against Detectives

According to NABU, suspect Burkin cooperated with the FSB during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Anti-corruption agencies claim that after the investigation into the organization's activities began, corrupt law enforcement officers joined in fabricating criminal cases against NABU detectives: specifically, "Carthage" case suspects, according to the investigation, cooperated with the FSB to fabricate a case against NABU detective Ruslan Magamedrasulov. The investigation views this circumstance as a potential use of the law enforcement system to protect illegal business and counter anti-corruption bodies.

Searches at the SBU

On Wednesday, November 4, NABU and SAPO conducted searches of several SBU officials. As Ukrainska Pravda reported, these searches may be linked to the activities of Andriy Osipov ("Criminal"), who was previously detained by anti-corruption bodies. Thus, the new audio recordings and procedural actions expand the circle of suspects and affect the highest echelons of law enforcement structures.