28 Feb 2018 18:07

Over 24 tonnes of banned substances seized in 2017 - Russian interior minister

MOSCOW. Feb 28 (Interfax) - The Russian Interior Ministry uncovered over 200,000 crimes associated with drug-dealing and seized over 24 tonnes of prohibited substances in 2017, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said.

"The activities of a total of 66 organized criminal communities selling drugs were stopped last year and almost 210,000 drug crimes were exposed, of which 95% were [uncovered] directly by the police," Kolokoltsev said at an Interior Ministry board meeting.

Over 24 tonnes of "controlled or prohibited substances" were seized last year, the minister said.