CSTO anti-drug operation Kanal – Nevsky Shchit seized over a tonne of drugs

On July 18–22, the CSTO conducted a sub-regional anti-drug operation Kanal – Nevsky Shchit (“Channel – Neva Shield”).
The operation’s international coordination headquarters were deployed in St Petersburg.
Participants of the operation included law enforcement bodies, border and customs agencies, state security services and financial intelligence units of the CSTO Member States.
Observers of the operation were representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Interpol, the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the CIS Committee of Heads of Law-Enforcement Units of Customs Services, the CIS Anti-Terrorism Centre, the Bureau for Coordination of Combating Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Types of Crime on the Territory of the CIS Member Nations, the Coordinating Council of Border Troops Commanders of the CIS Member Nations, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors and the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
More than 15,000 members of the competent authorities were involved in the operation Kanal –Nevsky Schit. According to preliminary data, their coordinated actions resulted in removing over one tonne of drugs from illegal circulation in the territory of the CSTO States, including approximately 119 kg of marijuana, over 700 kg of drug plants, over 102 kg of hashish, over 11 kg of mephedrone and almost 4 kg of methamphetamine, 436 g of heroin and 10 t of precursors.
A total of 492 drug crimes were detected. 31 drug gangs were exposed. A total of 579 persons were brought to administrative liability for illegal operations with drugs. 519 websites disseminating illegal drug information were detected. 76 firearms and about 1,221 items of ammunition were seized.
During the operation, the financial intelligence units of the Eurasian Group member states identified suspicious financial transactions suspected of drug money laundering in the amount of approximately RUB107 million.
In addition, the competent authorities of the CSTO Member States conducted a number of international controlled deliveries. Several channels for smuggling controlled substances were uncovered and disrupted.
Members of the international coordination headquarters visited the St Petersburg seaport and the Torfyanovka international motor vehicle checkpoint located on the Russian-Finnish border, where they studied the work of customs and border guard services and reviewed the operation of inspection equipment and sniffer dogs.
Participants of the operation shared their experience in detecting drugs.
Officers of the Grom special-purpose unit of the St Petersburg and Leningrad region police department demonstrated practical methods of detention of armed drug dealers.
Joint work to strengthen and expand cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking will continue.