Rustam Minnikhanov: “Prevention of drug trafficking is one of the most important national tasks”

On January 31 at a joint session of Anti-drug commission and RT Department of Federal Service of the Russian Federation for the Control of Drug Trafficking Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov said that the problem of drug trafficking can only be solved by joint efforts of law enforcement bodies, state authorities and public organisations.

Tatarstan President noted that Universiade required well-coordinated actions of state authorities and law enforcement agencies, and the Games were held on the highest level. RT Department of Federal Service of the Russian Federation for the Control of Drug Trafficking fulfilled their tasks, he added. 15 thousand volunteers and 4 thousand people who worked at sports venues were tested for drug taking. Rustam Minnikhanov thanked RT Department of Federal Service of the Russian Federation for the Control of Drug Trafficking for participation in preparation for Universiade.

85 mln rubles were allocated for preventive counter-drugs measures for the last three years. There was a decrease in drug abuse rate by 11 per cent in 2013.

Head of RT Department of Federal Service of the Russian Federation for the Control of Drug Trafficking Fayaz Shabaev reported on results of work in 2013. In particular, he told that 5 drug syndicates and 220 groups were liquidated, 500 leaders and members of criminal organisations were brought to trial. There were 255 drug addicts for 100 thousand population. Law enforcement bodies registered 4851 crimes connected with illegal trafficking of banned substances.

Summing up, Rustam Minnikhanov said that drug abuse prevention is one of the most important national tasks. He added that it is important to increase the level of coordination, improve mechanism of interaction between state authorities and law enforcement agencies and attract public organisations. Main task of RT Department of Federal Service of the Russian Federation for the Control of Drug Trafficking is counteraction to illegal drug trafficking.