Sixty-nine wanted fugitives held on Azerbaijani-Russian border
BAKU. Nov 28 (Interfax) - Law enforcement officers from Azerbaijan and Russia conducted Operation Border Shield on the joint border on November 18-23 and apprehended 69 people wanted for various crimes, the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry said in a statement.
"As a result of measures which covered border areas of the Republic of Dagestan in Russia and the Quba, Qusar, Khachmaz, Balakan, Zaqatala, Qakh, Shaki, Oghuz, and Qabala Districts in Azerbaijan, 69 people have been arrested who are wanted for having committed various crimes, including 22 wanted in Russia, and the whereabouts have been established of eight people who were considered missing. [Officers] also arrested 44 people who had debts to the state," the statement said.
During the operation officers seized nine assault rifles, two grenade launchers, a machinegun, eight pistols, 98 shotguns, 44 hand grenades, and a large amount of shells and cartridges, it said.
The operation was part of a range of measures to put a stop to the operations of trans-border crime groups, detect and disrupt smuggling routes for guns, explosives, drugs, and any items intended for criminal use. Similar joint operations will continue in the future, the statement said.