Operation CSTO "Channel - Red Dune" - more than 9 tons of drugs were withdrawn from trafficking, 765 drug-related crimes were detected, more than 9 thousand criminal cases were initiated

Pursuant to the decision of the Collective Security Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) dated September 5, 2008, giving the integrated operational and preventive operation “Channel” the status of a regional permanent anti-drug operation, in the interests of ensuring collective security, in order to counter the transit of drugs produced in the territory of Afghanistan along the “Northern Route”, the elimination of the drug-raw material base, canal distribution channels of the cannabis group, as well as Sub- stances synthetic origin, the competent authorities of the CSTO member states in the period from 10 to 14 September 2018 held a special anti-drug operation "Channel-Red dune."  

 On September 15, 2018, a meeting on summarizing was held under the chairmanship of the head of the International Coordination Headquarters for the operation, the Chairman of the Coordination Council of the heads of the competent authorities on countering illegal drug trafficking (CCBCD) of the CSTO member states, the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation totals of the operation.  

   The Deputy Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Kazakhstan, R.T. Zhakupov, delegations of the competent authorities of the CSTO member states, representatives of the competent authorities of Iran, China, international organizations, UNODC, CARICC, SCO, EAG, Interpol, Europol, as well as the Chairman of the Coordination Meeting of the chief drug treatment specialists of the CSTO member states, chief psychiatrist-narcologist of the Russian Ministry of Health E.A. Brun.

 The international coordination headquarters for the operation was deployed on the basis of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Shymkent). The intention of the complex of measures aimed at stabilizing the drug situation was to implement large-scale operational-search and other actions, primarily aimed at identifying and suppressing the channels of drug flow into the states involved in the operation, the implementation of inspection activities of vehicles, baggage, cargo and individuals crossing borders, about operational search activities in the field of possible cultivation of “Indian cannabis”, with aerial reconnaissance of hard-to-reach territories, increased control over the relevant sections of the state border and at checkpoints.
 
  In order to prevent drug smuggling in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the Turkestan, Kyzylorda and Zhambyl regions, joint mobile groups were established, to block off the drug trafficking channels in the Shuiskaya Valley, they included officers of the cynological services of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic with search dogs The operation also involved special units, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles of the National Guard and Kazakhstan.

   As a result of the coordinated actions of the law enforcement agencies of the participating countries, more than 9 tons of drugs were seized, including more than 5 tons of opium, more than 800 kg of hashish, more than 1 ton of 111 kg of marijuana, about 40 kg of heroin, more than 2 tons of synthetic drugs.  

  765 drug crimes were detected, more than 9 thousand criminal cases were initiated, including 727 for crimes related to drug trafficking. 303 firearms, about 2.5 thousand of ammunition, material assets worth more than $ 127 thousand were seized from offenders.

   As Igor Zubov noted in his speech, cooperation with the CSTO partner countries continues to be one of the priorities for the Russian Federation. Collaboration using the existing mechanisms of the Organization has consistently demonstrated its high efficiency, as evidenced by the results of practical cooperation of the competent authorities of the Member States. In general, the anti-drug cooperation between law enforcement officers of the CSTO is informal and constructive. Business, and sometimes military cooperation, has deep historical roots, progressively developing. First of all, it is the conduct of joint operational-preventive operations and operational search activities.    

 At the same time, considerable potential lies in improving the legal and regulatory framework, technical equipment of state borders and transition points, preventing drug-related crime and reducing the demand for drug substances, curbing the spread of drugs using the Internet and countering the legalization of criminal incomes.  

 As the operation showed, the practical cooperation of the competent authorities is effective and fruitful. Joint work on strengthening and expanding cooperation in the fight against such a dangerous phenomenon as drug trafficking will continue.