We must crack down on drug barons, Putin says

We must minimize the drug mafia's financial base, eventually depriving drug barons of their financial assets, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation told the board of the federal drug control agency.

According to Putin, Russia now has a stable, well-structured and ramified drug mafia, which produces, transports and sells drugs.

First of all, we must minimize the drug mafia's financial base, eventually eliminating that base, Putin told those present. Its economic foundation must be undermined, Putin added. With this in mind, we must, first of all, fight money-laundering operations; financial flows must be stopped, as well, Putin said in conclusion.