Working group of Russian State Council to set up body for coordinating fight against drug trafficking

The working group of the Russian State Council proposes a special body be set up for coordinating activities of different ministries and departments in combating drugs, deputy chief of the Kremlin's administration Alexander Abramov told RIA Novosti ahead of the session of the State Council's presidium devoted to fight with illegal drug trafficking scheduled for Tuesday, September 24th.

Pointing out that similar bodies exist in all developed countries, Abramov emphasized the necessity of creating such a structure in Russia. Yet he could not suppose whether it would be a separate structure or a committee within the Interior Ministry.

The working group also proposes to carry out a number of steps to strengthen the borders and customs structures in order to prevent drugs import in Russia more efficiently, Abramov said. In this connection, "there will be a number of requests to governors of border areas" and to the press minister in the context of preventing drugs propaganda in mass media, the Kremlin representative pointed out.

To succeed in combating illegal drug trade it is necessary to improve legislation, the group believes and, thus, proposes to adopt a number of new laws and enactments.

Abramov recalled that the forthcoming session will be the last one for the State Council presidium members of the 4th rotation.

Recently the issues of fighting narcotics have been repeatedly considered at different levels, he recalled. For example, this year has seen a joint session of the State Council's presidium and the Security Council on the problem, and several meetings of the corresponding government committee headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, as well as a recent presidential session in August devoted to the same issue.