On March 16, meeting on the results of the 2010 was held at the State Commission for Sruggle Against Drug Addiction and iIlegal Drugs Trafficking of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Chairman of the Commission, the Vice-Chairman of the Prime Minister Ali Hasanov said that some prevented practical-prophylactic measures related with the fulfilment of the duties moved out from the “Programme about the Struggle against illicit drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors trafficking and spreading of drug addiction (2007-2012) “ approved by the signed order in the 2007 th year of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan were held. The working group of the State Commission implemented some projects with ministries, committees and organizations in these events. The Vice-Chairman of the Prime Minister emphasized that implemented struggle measures are always in the attention of the head of our state.

The Chairman of the commission called illicit drugs trafficking and corruption a great misfortune of the mankind. He said that last years the term “Narcocorruption” was formed in the political lexicon. With the object of strengthening of the struggle against “Narcocorruption” he moved out the ofter preparation of the application to people.

The Vice-Chairman of the Prime Minister said that the department with law enforcement agencies of the President Administration together with the State Commission held the regional conference related with the struggle against drug addiction and illicit drugs trafficking in May of the 2010 th year in Lankaran. The offer holding this kind of conference this year in another region of the country was moved out as well.

A.Hasanov also speaking about the annual report of the UN International Control Committee on Narcotics noted that given mark to Azerbaijan doesn`t reflect the reality in the document. As if in the document the struggle against this problem in Armenia is organized better than our republic and indices are decreased. The Vice-Chairman of the Prime Minister said that the fact of drugs growing in the occupied territory of Azerbaijan wasn`t shown in the same document. Therefore making correction in the report was inevitable. The commission about it will prepare the protest letter and send to the international committee.

Then officials of connected organizations gave information about implemented activity in the struggle sphere against illicit drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and spreading of drug addiction.

The Chief of the SCC Struggle Head Office Against Legal Violations in the Customs Sphere, customs service Major-General Guloglan Muradli in his turn in his speech about the fulfilment of duties by customs authorities moved out from the “Programme about the struggle against illicit drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors trafficking and spreading of drug addicition (2007-2012)” said that in the 2010 th year over 7700 legal and natural people functioning in the country carried out trade operations with nearly 150 countries of the world, hundred thousands means of transport and millions of passengers passed through customs border with different purposes. It is a pity that among them there are people trying to use of the developed infrastructure of transport of Azerbaijan for transportation purpose of drugs, mainly to regions of “Afghan” drugs “narcoconsumer” with dirty intention.

Specialy, in South borders narcocondition is more complicated and in this direction “narcoagression” to our country doesn`t become slower. With the object of liquidation of use of the country territory as a “conductive point” by customs authorities standing in the fore-front in the struggle against it, strengthening of the customs control and operational-investigation activity, improvement of customs officials professionality, application of the most advanced methods, technical means, liquidation of means gained from illegal drugs trafficking financing source of the terrorism complex measures were implemented in the expansion direction of the mutual cooperation and information exchange with the Financial Monitoring Service Attached to the Central Bank.

In the 2010 th year main border checkpoints were built in the form meeting requirements of the most modern standars and used. The application of 4 numbers mobile check installation giving opportunity for inspection of means of transport with big size was provided. Measures about the improvement of the “single window” system application and organization of mobile groups activity were implemented. For consideration the new Customs Code project was introduced to Milli Majlis.

Using of opportunities of the modern telecommunication and information technologies created SCC Targets Determination Centre started its activity, the application of the Unit Automated Management System was improved, materials about struggle against narcotics were lightened systematically in the new site of the Committee had been honoured with the second place in the republic in the “National Net 2010” competition for the state and municipal sites nomination.

As a result of implemented measures in connection with illicit drugs trafficking in the 2010 th year 147 facts were detected that it is in comparison with detected facts in the 2009 th year 2.26 times more. In connection with related facts during implemented investigations by SCC Investigation Office reason and condition commiting this kind crimes were studied and for prevention them measures were carried out. Accod\rding to these facts over 319 kg mainly “heavy” and “strong influence” narcotics from illicit trafficking: 42 g 850 grammes heroin, 17 kg 272 grammes metam-phetamine, 34 kg 047 grammes opium, 224 kg 288 grammes hashish and other substances were taken.

G.Muradli emphasized that among taken narcotics from illicit trafficking last years for its influence on a human organism heroin with “Afghan” origin being very dangerous increase of its specific weight causes anxiety. Thus, in the 2008-2010 th years nearly 173 kilogrammes heroin was captured that it is in comparison with captured heroin in the 2005-2007 th years 13.3 times more.

In 2010 th year according to narcofacts 142 men, 16 women were made answer. It`s a pity that use of women and under age as a narcocourier is increasing year after year. Thus, during last 5 years more than 12 percent of made answer are women.

Trying to transport narcotic by hiding on under age children by their father was prevented in several cases last year. For example, the citizen of Iran while passing through a customs control in Astara checkpoint with his wife and children, elder daughter 12 years old, small daughter 6 years old 2 kg 15 grammes heroin, 1 kg 10 grammes hashish were detected and taken from two parcels, hidden under their clothes.

In other case as a result of the personal check 500 grammes opium was detected from the citizen of Azerbaijan realizing his dirty intention trying to transport by hiding on the under age son.

G.Muradli saying “Analysis of detected facts last years shows increase of narcosmuggling cases commited by transnational organizational criminal groups” noted that 11 narcogroups being busy with illicit drugs trafficking in the 2010 th year were detected and rendered harmless. Carrying out serious duty share among member of these narcogroups having selfdiscipline and control in their activity, use of advanced technologies, modern financial and payment system increase their perilousness. Analysis of transportation route and other cases, citizenship of captured people by covering of this crimes territory of some states having transnational character show inevitability of combining international efforts in the struggle against them.

Taking the importance of this into consideration on the ground of existing agreements the joint activity plans were signed with customs services of Russia, Georgia, Iran and Kazakhstan having the same border. Corresponding measures on the ground of this kind plan were also implemented with the customs service of Turkey. At the same time the cooperation with WCO, UNO, NCO, CAREC, SECI, GUAM and other international organizations was developed.

In the 2010 th year some big narcosmuggling channels were also detected and abolished by customs authorities. As a result of the complex operational measures according to 16 facts 28 855 grammes opium, 10 kg 170 grammes heroin, 39 kg 25 grammes drug and 1 number pistol with “Makarov” type and different instruments and means used for preparation of crime were detected and taken from the special made 24 numbers post parcel and people`s addresses being organizators of this narcochannel by narcosmugglers with the object of making difficult of customs control, considered sending to Canada, Sweden and Greece by international post.  The members of the transnational criminal group being organizators of the above mentioned narcochannel were arrested.

Besides this, serious increase in illicit metamphetamine trafficking having strong influence was observed in the previous year. If in the 2009 th year 11 grammes metamphetamine was detected and taken by customs authorities but in the 2010 th year 6 facts related with transportation metamphetamine by smuggling way to Malaysia, Thailand though air transport passing transit through Azerbaijan territory from Iran were detected, 17 kg 272 grammes metamphetamine was taken out from illicit trafficking. Smugglers consisting of Azerbaijan citizens were exposed. With the object of secret transportation metaphetamine without customs control they used of absorption, locating in canned form in a tin and other methods.

According to the entered operational information the State Customs Committee as a result of jointly implemented exptdient complex operational-investigation measures over 49 kg drug, hashish was detected and taken from 30 parcels  inside of granite and other decorative tile in the ship implementing international sea transport to Russia from Iran in Astrakhan port in August, the 2010 th year. A group of people being organizators of this narcochannel in Saint Petersburg and Ivanovo cities of Russia were arrested and about them corresponding measures were taken.

Analysis of detected facts and operational information approves that narcosmugglers tried for transportation drugs side by side mostly to Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia route and Canada, Tailand, Malaysia, Greece, Sweden and other countries using of the country territory as a transit.

G.Muradli at the end of his speech said with assurance that the State Customs Committee will mobilize all energy in the struggle direction against drugs and will worthily fulfil duties standing in front of them.

In connection with the discussed matters at the meeting the total decision was received.