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Department chief of Azerbaijani Interior Ministry: Over 1 ton of drugs was removed from the turnover in Azerbaijan last year, this is more compared with 2008

25 January 2010 11:22 (UTC +04:00)

-What measures were taken concerning the illicit drug turnover in Azerbaijan last year? How many narcotic drugs were removed from the turnover?

-Interior Ministry carried out a number of activities to combat the illicit drug turnover in 2009. Over 1 ton of drugs was removed from the turnover in Azerbaijan last year. This is more compared with 2008. 130kg of the narcotic drugs removed from the turnover last year made up heroin. Department to Combat Narcotics rendered harmless three organized crime gangs last year. There were citizens of Iran among them. A great deal of narcotic plants were burned in 720ha area in 2009. the measures continue in this field.

-How many persons were held accountable in connection with the illicit drug turnover in Azerbaijan in 2009?

-2641 people were held accountable in connection with narcotics last year. Five of them are underage. This figure remained stable in comparison with 2008. 616 of them are under 30. 2000 are above 30.

-Are there foreigners among those held accountable?

-There has always been. There are foreigners among those held account7able in connection with narcotics. Compared with 2008, their number did not change last year. 58 foreigners were held accountable last year. Most of them are citizens of Islamic Republic of Iran.

-Through what routes the narcotics are transported to Europe? Is Azerbaijan used as transit country?

-You know, Afghanistan is a country known for the production of narcotics. The narcotics produced in this country are transported to Iran and then to Europe. Azerbaijanâ€™s geographical location makes it inevitable. Narcotics are mainly taken to Europe through Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Caspian Sea. The occupied Azerbaijani territories are also used as transit. Unfortunately, we can not control it.

-Is Azerbaijan cooperating with the international organizations for combating illicit drug turnover?

-This is not the problem of only Azerbaijan, but of the whole world. Every state is seriously combating illicit drug turnover. Azerbaijan joined the UN conventions on combating narcotic drugs. We have broad relations with the countries that joined these conventions. Azerbaijan is cooperating with the international organizations in this field.