Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.16 / Trend , K.Zerbaliyeva /
Drug smuggling cases committed by organized criminal groups has increased in number in Azerbaijan in recent years.
Thirteen organized criminal groups engaged in illegal drug trafficking were revealed in 2009, the State Customs Committee said.
Six transnational organized criminal groups were revealed as a result of complex operational search and investigation actions held from May 8, 2009 to July 10, 2009. Over 50 kilograms of heroin were seized from the members.
Organized drug traffickers from Pakistan and Nigeria and major drug channel Pakistan-Iran-Azerbaijan to China and Italy were revealed during the operations.
Fifteen people, including seven Pakistani citizens, three - Uzbekistan, one from Nigeria, Lithuania and Cambodia, two - Azerbaijan have been arrested and imprisoned for attempting to smuggle drugs through this channel in special hiding places. In total, nine men and six women have been arrested.
Sixty five facts relating to the illegal drug traffic, on which 319.907 kilograms of drug, including 208.825 kg of hashish, 61.870 kg grams of heroin, 48.885 kg of opium, 326.92 grams of marijuana, 1.982 kg of psychotropic substances (in the form of ampoules, capsules and tablets), 1.65 g of methadone, 10.819 g of methamphetamine were seized, were revealed in 2009. In connection with these facts 81 people, including 66 men and 15 women, have been imprisoned.
Thirty nine individuals were detained in connection with illegal drug trafficking. There were 39 Azerbaijani citizens, 17 Iranian, seven Pakistani, six Russian, four Uzbek, two Nigerian, two Turkish, one Georgian, Indian, Lithuanian and Cambodian citizen.
Analysis of the facts revealed in 2009, and operational information show that smugglers often tried to use the routes of Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia and Iran-Azerbaijan-China.