About 145 kg of Drugs Seized in Belarus during CSTO Enforcement Operation “Channel-2008”

As is reported by the Department of Information and Public Relations of Belarusian Ministry of Home Affairs, more than 30 tons of narcotic, psychotropic and hard drugs were seized in the course of the international integrated operative-preventive operation conducted by CSTO “Channel-2008”.

As is reported by the Department of Information and Public Relations of Belarusian Ministry of Home Affairs, more than 30 tons of narcotic, psychotropic and hard drugs were seized in the course of the international integrated operative-preventive operation conducted by CSTO “Channel-2008”.

We would remind you that the first stage of the operation “Channel-2008” was conducted from 15^th to 22^nd September while the second one – from 17^th to 24^th November. Among the participants were: law-enforcement agencies of CSTO member states as well as authorized representative of more than 20 countries including the USA, Italy, Spain, China and Afghanistan.

The primary objectives of this operation were blocking of cocaine smuggling channels from Latin America, synthetic drugs from Eastern Europe and Afghan opiates delivered onto the territory of Eurasian countries as well as suppression of illegal supply of precursors to Central Asian counties and Afghanistan.

According to the organizers’ plan, this special operation favours the development of effective cooperation among the competent authorities of those countries the territories of which are used by the transnational drug dealing to produce or transit narcotic drugs.

It should be noted that in order to ensure cooperation of forces and means involved into the operation, International Coordination Headquarters have been established in Moscow. In turn, each country has organized the work of national and regional interdepartmental headquarters with the participation of interested law-enforcement agencies and secret services.

On the part of Belarus, they are formed by the officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, State Security Committee, State Customs Committee and State Frontier Committee. On average more than two thousand officers of Belarusian law-enforcement agency were taking part in the operation daily as well as about 300 joint task forces which were specially established to examine railway and air transport, highways and border area.

During the period mentioned about 145 kg of narcotic and psychotropic drugs were seized on the territory of Belarus. The operation helped to detect 214 crimes relating to illegal turnover of drugs and institute criminal proceedings against 185 citizens.

Besides that, thanks to joint action of the member-countries, the long-standing channels of contraband drug traffic have been blocked, more than 12 thousand drug crimes have been detected and than 30 tons of narcotic, psychotropic and hard drugs have been seized. Exchange of operation information made it possible to concretize main routes of drug traffic and therefore to continue detecting transnational criminal groups.