Their base was a complex on Kamenny Island Avenue. In the summer of 1993, the group made its presence known during a struggle over spheres of influence with ethnic criminal organizations.
Kumarin’s men began smashing up market stalls, determined to impose their own rules. After that, they pushed competitors out of the illegal drug trade.
A key role in the crew’s success was reportedly played by the famous crime boss Vyacheslav Ivankov, known as Yaponchik, who was then living overseas. His connections helped establish ties with international cartels.
The contraband came through the seaport in crates of frozen seafood. Foreign partners were eager to open up new markets.
There were even talks about buying an old submarine to transport shipments. Representatives of the organization reportedly proposed purchasing a decommissioned sub about 300 feet long.
That gives you some idea of the scale they were operating on. A vessel like that could move dozens of tons in a single trip.
The plan was to stash the cargo in torpedo compartments, but the deal never went through. In the end, shipments moved through containers of fruit and canned goods packed right at the port.
From border checkpoints, the product spread across the country. The money from that trade poured into the organization nonstop.
Starting in 1994, the leader changed tactics and began aggressively building ties with politicians and government officials. According to law enforcement, the gang’s membership grew to several thousand people…
