Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 23/ Trend , K. Zarbaliyeva/
Head of the Interior Ministry's Central Department for Combating Narcotics, Major General Hazi Aslanov said the demand for strong drugs has risen in Azerbaijan.
"More drugs are likely to be transited through Azerbaijan each year as we are located on the crossroads of Asian countries - top drug producers - and European countries - top drug abusers," Aslanov said.
He said heroin accounts for the majority of the drugs.
"Serious preventive measures must be taken to combat drug trafficking," he said.
Aslanov noted that about 2,723 drug trafficking incidents were uncovered in Azerbaijan in 2008, which is 359 more than in 2007. Roughly 1,044 account for drug sales, 1, 566 - storage and 97 - cultivation.
Marijuana accounts for 210 kilograms of the seized drugs, hashish - 345 kilograms, opium - 55 kilograms, and heroin - 39 kilograms. As many as 54 foreign citizens were detained from whom 117 kilograms of drugs were seized.
Twenty-four detained foreigners were from Iran, 17 - Georgia, 12 - Russia and 1 - Ukraine.
Around 347 tons and 108 kilograms of plants were burned.
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