16 Nov 2020 14:37

Drug trafficking into Russia shrinks by 1/3 due to closure of borders amid coronavirus pandemic - Putin

NOVO-OGARYOVO. Nov 16 (Interfax) - The scale of drug trafficking into Russia shrank by a third due to the closure of borders amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Practically all borders closed worldwide this year because of the pandemic. As a result, in the first half of 2020 - this is actually a blessing in disguise - drug trafficking into Russia shrank by over a third," Putin said at the Monday meeting of the Russian Security Council dedicated to Russia's drug control strategy.

As interstate contacts are unavoidably resuming, "attempts to boost drug trafficking from other countries will resume," Putin said.