Vladimir Putin called for closer antidrug cooperation within the CSTO

Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the CSTO Collective Security Council and President of the Russian Federation, called for closer antidrug cooperation “primarily at prominent and influential platforms such as the United Nations, BRICS, CSTO and SCO, and expand the exchange of information and experience in countering transnational, cross-border drug-related crime.”
According to the kremlin.ru website, Vladimir Putin said this on November 16 during a remotely held meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.
The meeting discussed key areas for improving the antidrug policy of the Russian Federation.
Vladimir Putin noted that over the past ten years, the implementation of the Russian State Antidrug Policy Strategy has made it possible to take a number of important steps in combating the drug threat. For example, “punishment for the sale and smuggling of drugs or their analogues, the punishment for the distribution of drugs online, in educational institutions, and crowded social venues has been increased drastically, up to life imprisonment.”
Noting the decrease in the number of officially registered drug users by more than a quarter over the last 10 years, as well as a 17% reduction in the level of drug-related crime, Vladimir Putin urged not to be complacent, because “both drug business and drug use are covert and latent. Analytical materials prepared for our meeting show that the situation remains complicated.”
“Our task is to improve efforts to counter drug trafficking and take more concerted and decisive action on all fronts. This must be the goal of the new Russian State Antidrug Policy Strategy until 2030. We will discuss the draft today,” he said.
The President of the Russian Federation named six principal points to which he would like to draw special attention of the meeting participants, noting among other things that “drugs are a global threat.”
As you may recall, the Recommendations on the Improvement of the National Legislation of the CSTO Member States Regulating Trade in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors were adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the CSTO on November 24, 2016.
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