Russians, Afghans Seize 600 Tons Of Opium

Most opium produced in Afghanistan is smuggled through Russia and Central Asia.

More than 600 tons of opium have been seized in a joint operation between law enforcement officials from Russia and Afghanistan.

The head of Russia's Federal Drug Control Service said the drugs were seized in mid-December in the northern Afghan city of Doshi.

Viktor Ivanov told a press conference in Moscow on December 22 that Afghan anti-drug police bagged the narcotics based on information provided by the Russian side.

Ivanov said the drugs were discovered in the trailer of a truck traveling from Afghanistan to Turkey where the opium would have been processed into heroin for later sale in Europe and elsewhere.

Based on reporting by TASS and Interfax

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