Russia has handed over information on nine major drug traffickers, living in Afghanistan and Central Asia, to the U.S. drug police in a framework of Russian-U.S. bilateral presidential commission, the head of the State Anti-Narcotics Committee, Viktor Ivanov, said.
Ivanov is also the Russian side head of the commission's working group on combating drug trafficking.
"In a framework of a strategic cooperation, the Russian side handed over [information on] nine objects, living in Afghanistan and Central Asia, who are involved in drug trafficking, in supply of bulk of drugs," Ivanov said.
Russia's drug control chief said that the information was handed over int the Moscow's Sheremetievo airport during his meeting with the U.S. Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske adding that earlier Russia passed over data on another 25 individuals involved in drug trafficking.
In March, Ivanov said that Russia would boost its drug control mission staff in Afghanistan as "the drug situation in Russia is rather difficult, and needs fast decisions, both in Russia and within the framework of international cooperation."
Moscow will hold an international forum on combating Afghan drug trafficking on June 9-10. Representatives of key anti-drugs agencies and leading experts are expected to attend it.
Afghan drug production increased dramatically after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban in 2001, and Russia has been one of the most affected countries, with heroin consumption rising steeply. An estimated 90% of heroin consumed in Russia is trafficked from Afghanistan via Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
According to the Federal Drug Control Service, Afghan opium causes the deaths of around 100,000 people around the world annually. In Russia alone Afghan heroin kills around 30,000 young people each year.
MOSCOW, May 23 (RIA Novosti)
