Over 15 tonnes of narcotics seized in operation in former Soviet republics

RIA news agency, Moscow
23 Sep 04

Over 15 tonnes of narcotic substances have been confiscated during the
Kanal-2004 operation by the law-enforcement bodies of the countries
belonging to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, RIA-Novosti
learnt from the public relations centre of the Russian Federal Service
for Control over the Trafficking of Narcotics and Psychotropic
Substances on Thursday [23 September]. The operation took place from
14 to 19 September. The CSTO member states include Russia, Armenia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Over 2,700 kg of drugs were taken out of illegal circulation during
the operation, including 131 kg of heroin, over 2,200 kg of marijuana
and 52 kg of opium, the agency said.

The agency said over 1,400 crimes linked to drugs circulation were
uncovered during the operation, and over 1,200 criminal investigations
were launched.