Sub-regional anti-drug operation "Canal - Nevsky Shield" was conducted

From 18 to 22 July this year, the competent authorities of the CSTO member States carried out the subregional anti-drug operation "Kanal - Nevsky Shield" in order to increase the level of practical cooperation between the CSTO member States and other countries to suppress the channels of cocaine, new psychoactive substances (NPS), drugs of opium and cannabis groups.

The International Coordination Headquarters (ICH) for the operation was deployed in St. Petersburg (Russian Federation).

Law enforcement structures, border and customs authorities, State security services and financial intelligence units of CSTO member States took part in the event.

Participants in the operation had the opportunity to strengthen direct contacts between the competent bodies of CSTO member States and States of the Eurasian region and to establish cooperation with colleagues from observer States in order to coordinate their work and increase the effectiveness of interaction.

Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Interpol, the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Units of CIS Customs Services, the CIS Anti-Terrorist Centre, the Bureau for Coordination of Combating Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Types of Crime on the Territory of CIS Member States, the Coordination Service of the Council of Commanders of Border Troops of CIS Member States, the Central

More than 15,000 members of the competent authorities were involved in the operation "Kanal-Nevsky Shield". As a result of coordinated action, according to preliminary data, more than one ton of drugs, including approximately 119 kilograms of marijuana, more than 700 kilograms of drug plants, more than 102 kilograms of hashish, more than 11 kilograms of mephedrone and almost 4 kilograms of methamphetamine and 436 grams of heroin and 10 tons of precursors were seized from illegal circulation in the territory of CSTO countries.

492 drug crimes were detected. Thirty-one drug gangs were exposed. Administrative proceedings were instituted against 579 people for illegal operations with drugs. 519 Internet sites were detected through which the illegal information on drugs was disseminated. Seizure of 76 firearms and about 1,221 ammunition.

In the course of the operation, the financial intelligence units of the EAG member-states revealed suspicious financial transactions, presumably connected with legalization of drug proceeds to the total amount of about 107 million rubles.

In addition, the competent authorities of the CSTO member states conducted a number of international controlled deliveries. Several channels for smuggling controlled compounds were uncovered and stopped.

Participants of the MCS visited the Seaport of St. Petersburg and the Torfyanovka international automobile checkpoint located on the Russian-Finnish border, where they familiarized themselves with the work of customs and border services. Examination equipment and sniffer dogs were demonstrated. Participants of the event exchanged their experience in detection of narcotic substances.

Employees of special "Grom" detachment of police department of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region demonstrated practical actions of detention of armed drug dealers.

The results of the operation "Kanal" was summed up by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrei Khrapov. Deputy Secretary General of the CSTO Semerikov Valery Anatolyevich participated in summarizing the results.

Joint work to strengthen and expand cooperation in combating drug trafficking will continue.