Russia: to combat drug trafficking in Afghanistan – long-term priority for country

Russia: to combat drug trafficking in Afghanistan – long-term priority for country

Speaking at the opening of an international anti-drug conference that Russia hosted on global drug awareness day, Federal Drug Control Service chief Viktor Cherkesov said combating Afghan drug trafficking was a long-term priority for his country.

Anatoly Safonov, a top anti-terrorism envoy to President Vladimir Putin, expressed concern that Russia was becoming a major transit route for Afghan drugs, the AP reports.

Russia is one of the main recipients of Afghan heroin, with nearly all of the drugs being traded in Russia coming from Afghanistan.