Ivan Rudyi, the director of Ukraine's Commission for the Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries (CRGL), has been detained on suspicion of assisting a Russian online casino operating in Ukraine.
Rudyi, who has chaired the CRGL from its inception in October 2020, is facing allegations that go beyond the casino ties.
During a search, investigators reportedly uncovered a significant amount of a material thought to be narcotics in his hands, adding to the already difficult case.
The regulator had already been identified for misbehaviour earlier this year, with Ukraine's anti-corruption office finding a violation involving Rudyi in January.
The present inquiry looks to be in its early stages, with more information likely as officials do their investigations.
In similar developments, Ukraine said earlier this year that it had taken steps to resolve military gambling concerns.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an order banning gambling activities among the country's military members, citing growing concerns about gambling's influence on morale and national security.
