Heavy drugs brought to Azerbaijan from neighbor countries: Interior Ministry official

"Heavy drugs are brought to Azerbaijan from Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Central Asia," Hazi Aslanov said in his interview with state media. 

Total of 2,723 facts of drug trafficking were registered in 2008, a rise of 359 facts from 2007.Total of 1,044 of them are connected with sale of drugs, 1,566 storage and 97 illegal cultivation. Over 116 kilograms of drugs were seized from 54 foreign citizens in 2008.

Twenty four of foreign citizens arrested for drug trafficking are from Iran, 17 from Georgia, 12 from Russia and one from Ukraine.

Aslanov said part of drugs brought from the afore-said countries is directed to local market and another part to Europe via different ways.

The analysis conducted over the past few years into drug situation showed that weight of smuggled heroin into the country did not exceed 100 grams in previous years. But in 2008 it reached 38 kilograms, he said.

Number of drug-related crimes prevented in the cities and regions, amount of seized drugs, as well as the variety does not reflect the real situation, Aslanov said.

He said the number of facts identified by the internal agencies in connection with drug trafficking over the past 15 years has increased 71 per cent.

/Trend News/