Greed lands drug dealer in jail

Photo: Politsei

Not long ago, prison doors closed upon drug dealer Ilja Tsihhon (32). His is a story of how, despite the many signs of danger, a greedy crook still stepped into the trap set by police, and how €5,000 of police special operations money were lost.

In Tallinn terms, Mr Tsihhon was one weighty drug dealer. He knew people who have loads of amphetamine – wholesalers like that are just a couple for the entire city.

Mr Tsihhon never touched the drugs, which were handled by helpers. Still, the drug police managed to link the man to narcotics. The criminal proceeding which finally landed Mr Tsihhon behind bars includes several situations which stand out somewhat.

Firstly, Mr Tsihhon proved totally unwilling to pay heed to hints of looming jail term. Secondly, the Northern Tallinn police drug group behind lost the €5,000 handed to Mr Tsihhon to imitate crime.

To catch a big fish in the criminal world, at times one needs to invest a lot, risking losing it. Like in the case at hand. All told, however, the state still won out, as the criminal proceeds confiscated proved twice as much.

But let’s start at the very beginning. Ten months ago, the Northern police drug team got word their old acquaintance Ilja Tsihhon was selling large quantities of amphetamine in Tallinn. By large quantities, they mean packages over a kilogram.

At the end of March, the police was ready for its initial definite step regarding Mr Tsihhon’ case – they paid a visit to Igor (42, name and age altered – R.B.), earlier punished for a drug crime and free on condition, selling amphetamine gotten via Mr Tsihhon on the street.

Debtor breeds vendor

Igor became Mr Tsihhon’s salesperson because of a girlfriend who owed Mr Tsihhon €200 for pills of amphetamine. As Mr Tsihhon demanded the money, Igor paid up. Igor, just out of jail, looked trustworthy and Mr Tsihhon offered him a deal – the man, with no stable income, might sell his drugs. Igor agreed.

Mr Tsihhon took to where the drugs were hidden, near a health track in Pirita, near the Song Festival Grounds, and at Liivamäe close to Maardu. Pointing the places out from a distance, he explained the goods would appear there at the decisive moment. He never touched the drugs personally.

Thus, over the next few months, about three kilograms of amphetamine changed hands. From Igor, in small amounts, these moved on to the streets of Tallinn. Hence the search in the hotel room, in March, where Igor dwelt.

Some days before that, Igor had sensed he was being followed. To Mr Tsihhon, who planned the following drug deal, he sent an SMS stating: «Don’t come, two are following … As I shake them, will call.»

Nevertheless, the police raid proved a success – in Igor’s hotel room, a few dozen grams of amphetamine were seized, and €980 in cash. Igor, realising the evidence was hard, was willing to cooperate to ease his punishment. The next day, he disclosed another 114 grams of amphetamine in his room that the police had failed to find.

For the police, Igor’s cooperation was a small victory as they were after Mr Tsihhon. The very next day after arrest, on eve of March 20^th, as permitted by police Igor attended a meeting with Mr Tsihhon to discuss a new drug deal.

The meeting near Tallinn passenger port terminal Tallinn at Bensiini St was already under police cover surveillance. Igor told Mr Tsihhon frankly that he’d had a visit by police. However, he said, he’d never mentioned Mr Tsihhon’s name to the investigators.

Igor said he’d fed the police some clients who owed him money and that the police had bought that. Mr Tsihhon mentioned he believed him – the latter being a verified guy and had Igor only wanted, he’d have been able to betray him long ago. «Don’t disclose me, then,» said Mr Tsihhon as they parted ways.

The men’s next deal was supposed to be over average – Igor wanted to buy a kilogram of amphetamine all at once. This, in itself, might have made Mr Tsihhon doubly careful. Is it normal that a vendor caught with drugs that very day is walking about a free man and offers such record deals?

But, greed comes before fall. Three days later, the men met at the Söögiplats fast food place at Tatari St, central Tallinn. In his pocket, Igor carried €1,000 from drug police, and a dictaphone. To secure him, criminal policemen were in position in the neighbourhood.

Mr Tsihhon, however, was unexpectedly nervous and closely watched the area. The hoped deal was cancelled. Even so, the men – outwardly just having a stroll – agreed about a deal even grander the next time.  

Igor claimed he had an order for several kilos of amphetamine and he was willing to pay 100 percent in advance. The money, €5,000, was provided by the investigators. This was nothing unusual, as the police constantly hands out money to imitate crimes, and the sums are often larger yet.

Amphetamine under rock

Two days later, they again met at the Tatari St Söögiplats. Mr Tsihhon parked his Mercedes at Tatari and Sakala St corner, and walked up to the hamburger place. While observed by police, the drug dealers took a short walk in the neighbourhood and, via Kentmanni and Sakala St, arrived at Reval Cafe on Pärnu Highway.

Igor handed Mr Tsihhon €5,000. The latter said he’d contact him afterwards. As drugs did not physically change hands, the investigators had to watch their money ride off in pocket of Mr Tsihhon. There was nothing they could do, having no evidence yet.

Two days later, the expected deal took place. Over mobile phone, Igor was texted by Mr Tsihhon that the goods would be brought at 10.15 pm that night to the hiding place near Maardu, at Vibeliku bus stop. Police had people there to secretly observe.

At 9.31 pm, they saw a BMW X5 50D pull over at the bus stop. A man exited, laid a plastic bag under the large rock next to the bust stop and left. In the bag, the police discovered about a kilogram of amphetamine. Its degree of purity was the highest in Tallinn, recently – 66 percent – which points to the high position of Mr Tsihhon’s supplier.

Therewith, evidence was in place to arrest Mr Tsihhon. That very night, the special unit K-komando apprehended Mr Tsihhon as he entered a vehicle in Kadriorg, at Koidula and Faehlmanni St corner. When searching his home in the house nearby, five grams of marijuana were found on top of the fridge. The man claimed he needed it for personal use: plagued by high blood pressure, he needed to smoke marijuana once or twice a week. To have a decent sleep.

A week later, it was the turn of Dmitri Kotškinin (28) who took the package to the bus stop near Maardu. The man, with no prior criminal record, was apprehended in Läänemere Road, Lasnamäe, at the wheel of a Nissan X-Trail.