Russian police detain man carrying $1.5mln worth of heroinJanuary 5, 2014 - 17:44 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A man driving a car with more than 45 kilograms of heroin worth about $1.5 million has been arrested and charged in Moscow, Russian officials said Sunday, Jan 5, according to RIA Novosti. The 30-year-old man, a member of a crime gang, was detained during the New Year holiday period as part of a large-scale operation, the Moscow branch of the Federal Drug Control Service said in a statement. Law enforcement officers are searching for other members of the gang, it said. Officers discovered the heroin concealed inside the vehicle’s door panels, as well as in the space for the air filter, the anti-drugs agency said. The haul, which bore markings that suggested it was from Afghanistan, was enough for several million doses, the statement said. Russia holds the first place worldwide for the number of heroin addicts per capita, and is a major conduit and destination for drugs originating in Afghanistan, the world’s leading producer of heroin, according to the UN’s World Drug Report 2013. A government report last September estimated the number of drug addicts in Russia at 8.5 million people, or almost six percent of the population. Over 90 percent of drug addicts in the country are believed to use heroin. The heroin market in Russia is valued at $6 billion by various sources. Between 30,000 and 40,000 Russians die every year from drug-related illnesses, according to official statistics. Photo: RIA Novosti Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |