Almost 170 tonnes of drugs impounded in Russia over 5 years - FSKN
MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - More than 12 tonnes of heroin, 14 tonnes of synthetic drugs and 142 tonnes of marijuana have been seized in Russia over the past five years, Federal Drug Control Service head Viktor Ivanov said at a Federation Council session on Wednesday.
"Over the past five years we have seized over twelve tonnes of heroin, including more than seven tonnes seized by FSKN of Russia, approximately 14 tonnes of synthetic drugs, including eleven tonnes seized by FSKN, and 142 tonnes of marijuana, including 94 tonnes seized by us," Ivanov said.
The total amount of drugs impounded in 2013 topped 37.5 tonnes, 65% of which were seized by the Federal Drug Control Service, he said.
"The share of most dangerous drugs had been growing, which significantly increased the amount of cocaine, synthetic drugs, hashish and heroin seized last year," Ivanov said.
The police detected more than 230,000 drug-related crimes in 2013, among them over 1,300 drug trafficking crimes committed in Russia, he said.
Up to 8 million Russians or about 5.5% of the total population are doing drugs, Ivanov said. "About 1.5 million of them use opium-based drugs," he added.
Ivanov noted a tangible decrease in the drug death rate amongst young Russian adults in the past seven years. He said it was an achievement of the Federal Drug Control Service, which was founded in 2003.