Support The Moscow Times!

Anti-Narcotics Chief Says Russian Heroin Market Worth $6 Billion

The black market for heroin in Russia, fueled by large-scale production in Afghanistan, is worth $6 billion dollars, said Federal Drug Control Service head Viktor Ivanov on Friday.

Ivanov said the marijuana market is worth $1.5 billion, the market for synthetic drugs $1 billion. and the cocaine market much less at $80 million, Interfax reported.

Earlier this month, the drug control service said there are five million regular drug users in Russia.

Over the weekend, anti-narcotics forces seized a huge haul of Afghan heroin, over 40 kilograms, from the home of two Tajik natives in St. Petersburg, Ivanov also said Friday. The pair is believed to be part of a larger drug-trafficking group, the members of which are currently being sought by authorities, Ivanov said.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more