Representatives of the Krasnodar Territory drug police and the Abkhaz
Interior Ministry held their first meeting in Sochi since signing an
inter-agency agreement on cooperation against drug trafficking in
June, RIA Novosti reports.
The Russian side was represented by the head of the state anti-drug
committee, Vyacheslav Ovechkin, and the head of the regional
department of drug control, Andrey Vedernikov. Abkhazia was
represented by the Deputy Interior Minister of the republic, Ramin
Gablaya.
The two countries will exchange information. The border follows the
River Psou, near Sochi, which makes this exchange especially
significant. Five cases of drug trafficking from Abkhazia were
revealed this year, involving light drugs. Heavy drugs are usually
transported from Russia to Abkhazia. The criminals take advantage of
the free border-crossing between the two countries.
Vedernikov noted that the flow of immigrants has increased due to the
construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi.
An official from the Abkhaz Interior Ministry said that the biggest
problem is the Inguri River, on the border with Georgia, but that
Russia has managed to moniter the border.
In addition to information exchange, the sides will analyse the ways
in which drug income is legalised, new types of drugs and their
production technology.
