A Russian-U.S. drug control working group will discuss on Thursday in Washington issues surrounding the global fight against drug trafficking, Russia's drug control agency said.
The group was established in 2009 and covers a wide range of issues from illegal drug trafficking to the rehabilitation of drug addicts.
"The meeting will give new impetus to the dynamic and constructive interaction between the Russian and U.S. law enforcement and political bodies conducting drug fighting activity," the statement said.
Afghan drug production increased dramatically after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled the Taliban in 2001, and Russia has been one of the most affected countries, with heroin consumption rising steeply. An estimated 90 percent of heroin consumed in Russia is trafficked from Afghanistan via Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
According to Russia's Federal Drug Control Service, Afghan heroin kills around 100,000 globally, including 30,000 Russians, each year.
MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti)