About 200 kilos of heroin seized in Russia
MOSCOW. Feb 25 (Interfax) - Almost 200 kilograms of Afghan heroin were seized in the Moscow region, Federal Drug Control Service head Viktor Ivanov told reporters on Monday.
"Some 187 kilograms of high-concentration [heroin] have been seized. The drug was made in Afghanistan and brought to Russia for distribution purposes. The wholesale price paid by drug lords for this shipment is approximately $18 million," Ivanov said.
"Liquidation of this supply chain and confiscation of the heroin prevented its selling in Russia for $180-$200 million," he said.
The drug was brought from Afghanistan to Russia across Central Asia under the guise of vegetable products.
The Uzbek community, many members of which are Russian subjects, organized the delivery, Ivanov said.
A truck brought the drug from Orenburg to the Moscow region. The Federal Drug Control Service was monitoring its travel, Ivanov said.
Russia is worried about the growth of Afghan heroin supplies across Central Asia. The federal service opened an office in Afghanistan to coordinate the anti-drug fight.
Ivanov said earlier that Russia had become the world's first consumer of heroin. Up to 100,000 Russians die from drugs each year, the service reported.
The service director said in June that 8.5 million Russians were taking narcotics regularly or sporadically. Some 18.5 million Russians have tried narcotics at least once in their lives.