The dissertation is an independent completed scientific work, which presents the results of the criminological characteristics of criminal offences in the field of illegal sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues in the Black Sea region of mainland Ukraine. The author forms a system of determination, provides data on persons who sell narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues in the Black Sea region of mainland Ukraine, and, based on the generalization of foreign and domestic experience, for the first time in national criminology, proposes a comprehensive system of prevention of these criminal offences in the Black Sea region of mainland Ukraine under martial law.
It is proved that the analysis and prevention of illegal sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues has recently become one of the most important areas of research in national criminology. Since the outbreak of Russia's large-scale aggression against Ukraine and the occupation of a large part of our country's territory, including the Black Sea region of mainland Ukraine, one of the consequences of the war has been a significant increase in drug use and trafficking.
This problem has become particularly acute in our territories in the areas of de-occupation and in areas close to active hostilities, including in Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions.There is a number of evidence that in the context of war, drug traffickers in the Black Sea region of Ukraine are constantly improving the systems of production, advertising, movement and delivery of drugs to consumers. They are constantly expanding their markets and the range of drugs on offer; improving the methods of drug distribution, changing routes of movement, using measures of conspiracy and concealment of illegal activities.
It is found that with the outbreak of war, all the determinants of social, economic, managerial, organizational, informational, and socio-psychological nature have become more acute. The author proves the deterioration of quantitative and qualitative indicators of criminal offences related to drug trafficking. In 2015-2021, the share of drug-related crimes fluctuated on average at around 5%, but with the outbreak of war, in 2022, their share increased to 10%, i.e., the growth doubled (from 4.5% in 2015 to 10% in 2022). Today, one in ten criminal offences in Ukraine is related to drug trafficking. As for the Black Sea region, most of which was in the area of active hostilities or is in the process of recovery from de-occupation, the share of drug-related crime has increased from 7 to 14.6%. Illegal sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues in the Black Sea region is characterized by a high proportion (23.3% in Odesa region, 36% in Mykolaiv region, and 31% in Kherson region). Criminal offences under Art. 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and ranks second in terms of prevalence in the structure of all criminal offences in the field of illegal drug trafficking, accounting for one third of it; and provides for the illegal demand for drugs in the entire region.
It is stated that the illegal sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues in the Black Sea region of Ukraine is committed in the vast majority by unemployed males, both young and adult aged 18 to 54 years, citizens of Ukraine, Ukrainians who were unmarried at the time of committing the crime under Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. For the most part, the persons who committed the illegal sale of drugs and psychotropic substances in the study region have an average level of education, and at the time of committing the criminal offence, they had not worked or studied anywhere. Almost a quarter of those who committed this
type of crime in the Black Sea region have experience of illegal activity, in particular, they have been previously convicted of crimes, mainly in the field of drug trafficking.
About 20 per cent of persons committing illegal sales under Article 307 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine in Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions do so in complicity and as part of organized groups or criminal organizations.
Based on a comprehensive study of the phenomenon of illegal sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues in historical, socio-legal and criminological retrospect, the article establishes the relationship between negative social, economic, political, climate changes and the expansion of supply and demand for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, etc. It is proved that the unprecedented growth in drug sales and consumption is especially evident in areas where wars, revolutions, regional or local military conflicts have taken place.
