Drug Gang Convicted for Record Stash of Fentanyl
On Tuesday, the Harju Country Court handed lengthy sentences in Estonia's largest-yet fentanyl case, convicting an organized group of possession of 1.5 kilograms of the drug.
The court handed sentences of four to 12 years for kingpin Vladimir Fidkevitš and co-defendants Sergei Sinotov, Aleksandr Melnitšuk, Sergei Mokrintšuk, Aleksandr Getalo, Toomas Kuum, Igor Kovaljov and Mušvig Agejev.
The court also confiscated 53,530 euros, a BMW, two Land Rovers and 7.5 kilograms of marijuana.
Officials said the amount of fentanyl was enough for 582,200 doses and that a bulk sale could have yielded 223,500 euros for the dealers.
Fidkevitš, who has previously been convicted of major drug crimes, formed the group in 2012.
Fentanyl is a quickly emerging, powerful drug that caused 137 of the 160 drug-related deaths in Estonia last year.