DUSHANBE, November 2, Asia-Plus – A large bulk of drugs – 158 kilograms of heroin – has been intercepted in the Moscow Region, Itar-Tass quoted the chief of the Moscow Region’s department of the federal drugs control service, Aleksandr Vasilyev, as saying.  

According to him, the anti-drug operation near the town of Stupino prevented no fewer than 3.5 million doses of the drug more than 2 million dollars worth from reaching the black market.

“In the evening of October 30 drugs control service operatives supported by reinforcements from the drugs control service’s head office and the Moscow Region’s police force carried out the final phase of a several months-long operation against the Tajik drugs distribution ring,” Vasilyev said.

Six suspects were detained – the ringleader and five members of his entourage.  In all the drugs trafficking ring numbered 30 members.

The criminal group came to the attention of Moscow Region drugs police several months ago.  Scrupulous detective work helped identify its leader, close associates and a wide network of minor distributors and pushers.  The cargo, disguised as a supply of fruit and vegetables, was detained during transportation. 

Criminal proceedings have been instituted, and an investigation is under way.  

The drugs trafficking ring operated in Moscow and the Moscow region for several years. Over this period they created a vast distribution chain and a major drugs transit channel from Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the Moscow drug enforcement authorities said.    

According to the Russian drugs control service officials over 6,000 tons of raw opium have been grown in Afghanistan – the main source of heroin smuggled into Russia and the European Union countries.  This amount is enough to make 800 tons of heroin.  One-third of this amount is addressed to the Russian black market.