The CSTO conducted a large-scale anti-drug operation "Channel-Neman"

From 26 to 30 September, this year, in accordance with the plan for the implementation of the CSTO counter-narcotic strategy for 2021-2025 and the decisions of the CSTO Coordination Council of the Heads of the Competent Authorities for Countering the Illicit Drug Trafficking, to ensure collective and national security, increase the level of cooperation between competent authorities and reduce the risks associated with drug trafficking within the framework of the CSTO regional counter-narcotic operation "Channel" a sub-regional anti-drug operation "Channel-Neman" was conducted.

The operational headquarters of the International Coordination Staff (ICS) for the operation was based in the city of Grodno (the Republic of Belarus).

Law enforcement agencies, border and customs authorities, state security services, and financial intelligence units of the CSTO member states took part in the large-scale events.

The operation participants had the opportunity to strengthen direct contacts between law enforcement agencies and special services of the CSTO member states and to establish cooperation with colleagues from specialized international organizations.

Representatives of: Interpol, the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Units of the CIS Customs Services, the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Center for Combating Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors, and the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure participated in the operation as observers.

More than 9.5 thousand employees of the competent authorities were involved in the operation "Channel-Neman".

According to preliminary data, as a result of coordinated activities on the territory of the CSTO countries, more than 432 kg of drugs including about 341 kg of marijuana, more than 810 drug plants, more than 33 kg of hashish, more than 7.8 kg of mephedrone and almost 9 kg of methamphetamine, 2.8 kg of heroin and 26 kg of precursors have been withdrawn from illegal turnover.

361 drug crimes were detected. Forty-one drug gangs were exposed. 298 people were brought to administrative responsibility for illegal drug operations. 59 Internet sites were uncovered through which prohibited drug information was disseminated. 43 firearms and about 2,500 ammunition were seized.

During the operation, the financial intelligence units of the EAG member countries identified 1,300 suspicious financial transactions of 29 citizens for a total of 100 million rubles.

In addition, the competent authorities of the CSTO member states have conducted a number of international controlled deliveries. A number of smuggling channels for controlled compounds have been blocked.

The ICS participants visited the V. Usov frontier post, the automobile checkpoint "Privalka" located on the Belarusian-Polish and Belarusian-Lithuanian borders, where they learned about the work of customs and border services and were shown the work of inspection equipment and search dogs. During the visit to JSC "Grodno-Azot" good practices of organization of precursors storage were studied.

In the framework of the Staff work there was a “round table” on combating the spread of synthetic drugs and their precursors, combating the cultivation of cannabis in the Central Asian region and the involvement of special forces of CSTO CRRF in special anti-drug operations.

Soldiers of the Special Police Unit of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee demonstrated practical actions to apprehend armed drug dealers.

Joint work to strengthen and expand cooperation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking continues.