Spain extradites to Russia man suspected of trafficking almost 30 kg of cocaine
MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Spain will extradite to Russia a man born in Latvia, who is wanted on the suspicion of trafficking 28 kilograms of cocaine from Ecuador in a ship's hold, the Prosecutor General's Office press service said.
"Today, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, the law enforcement authorities of the Kingdom of Spain will extradite to Russia a man born in the Latvian republic, Igor Kogan. He will be escorted to Moscow," says the report seen by Interfax on Thursday.
The man is accused of contraband perpetrated by an organized group, and large-scale drug trafficking with the intent to distribute. The case is being investigated by the Investigative Department of the Russian Interior Ministry, the press service said.
"In January 2009, Kogan, a member of an organized group, illegally transported narcotic substance, over 28 kilograms of cocaine, from the Republic of Ecuador to Russia and hid it from the customs in a ship's hold. The substance was found and impounded by officers of the Baltic customs of the Russian Federal Customs Service in the course of customs control," the report said.
Kogan escaped from the police and was put on the federal and international wanted lists in July 2014. He was detained in Spain in May 2015, the Prosecutor General's Office said.