A photo report by RIA Novosti describes how one of those laboratories was shut down.
On June 9-10, Moscow will host the International Forum “Drug Production in Afghanistan: A Challenge for the International Community.” In 2009 alone almost 45,000 tons of drugs were seized from illegal distribution (33% more than in the previous year), and 4,414 drug houses and 37 clandestine chemical drug laboratories were eliminated in Russia. A photo report by RIA Novosti describes how one of those laboratories was shut down.
Synthetic drugs were produced in the basement of a kindergarten.
Police from Yekaterinburg, with the assistance of the Drug-Free City Fund, carried out an operation to eliminate a laboratory producing synthetic drugs. The fund’s main goal is to stop drug trafficking in Yekaterinburg and the restof the Sverdlovsk Region, thereby creating a precedent for the entire country. Photo: Yevgeny Malenkin, vice-president of the Drug-Free City Fund in the synthetic drug laboratory that was shut down.
The Drug-Free City Fund was established in March 1998. In the beginning, the fund promoted healthy lifestyles to the public, issued leaflets about the dangers of drugs, held sports competitions and supported children’s sports clubs. In August 1999, the fund drastically changed its policy because drug trafficking had then reached its peak. The regional narcotics clinic registered 6,300 drug addicts (the fund estimates the number of drug addicts in Yekaterinburg reached 200,000). Photo: the synthetic drug laboratory that was shut down.
The fund established an information center to collect and process information on drugs from different areas. Many officials quote the fund’s statistics. The fund’s information has contributed to the success of several major operations against drug dealers. Photo: The fund’s vice-president, Yevgeny Malenkin, and police officers during the closure of the synthetic drug laboratory.
The fund registered a pager to which people could report drug trafficking spots. The fund’s representatives are confident that it is possible to curb drug trafficking. The main problem is overcoming the fear of the notorious drug mafia. Photo: The fund’s vice-president, Yevgeny Malenkin, and police officials during the closure of the synthetic drug laboratory.
Every year, 80,000 new drug addicts are registered in Russia. The 2-2.5 million addicts are people aged 18-39. Photo: The synthetic drug laboratory shut down by the police of Yekaterinburg with the fund’s assistance.
The International Narcotics Control Board said in a report that Russia now has 2.5 million drug addicts and more than 5.1 million drug users, which is two times higher than the 2002 statistics.Photo: The synthetic drug laboratory shut down by police from Yekaterinburg with the fund’s assistance.
According to a UN estimate, Russia has the largest number of heroin addicts. It accounts for 21% of the world’s heroin and 5% of all opiates consumption. Photo: The synthetic drug laboratory shut down by police from Yekaterinburg with the fund’s assistance.
