Separate elements of the criminal characteristics of criminal offenses related to illegal drug trafficking

The article is devoted to certain elements of the forensic characteristics of criminal offenses related to illegal drug trafficking. It is noted that over the past 2 years, the number of criminal offenses investigated by us has significantly increased, which requires science and practice to develop new approaches to pre- trial investigation, including forensic characterization. The main elements of the forensic characterization of criminal offenses related to drug trafficking will be: the method of the crime, the object of the criminal offense, the identity of the criminal and typical traces. It has been established that the methods of committing these criminal offenses include: movement of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues or precursors across the customs border of Ukraine outside of customs control or with concealment from customs control; the use of funds obtained from the illegal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, precursors, poisonous or potent substances or poisonous or potent medicines for the purpose of continuing the illegal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, precursors, poisonous or potent substances or poisonous or strong medicines; illegal production, manufacture, acquisition, storage, transportation or forwarding of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues; appropriation, extortion, narcotics, psychotropic substances; illegal sowing or cultivation of hypnotic poppy; illegal introduction of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues into the body; tendency to use narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues, etc. It was concluded that groups of traces of drug production, storage, consumption, and others allow for differentiated examination and effective response to various aspects of drug crime. And the detection of equipment, process materials, final product and other elements related to the manufacture of drugs becomes an important step in uncovering and stopping the activities of drug traffickers. Some traces, such as odor and microparticles, can remain with artisanal production, providing additional opportunities for detection and apprehension of criminals.