During January-December months of the 2009 th year the legal-protection activity of the customs authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan was directed to the protection of the economic interest and security of the Republic of Azerbaijan and prevention of smuggling and other legal violation in the customs activity sphere by mobilizing all energies.

With this object customs authorities created condition for the rational struggle against crimes in the customs activity by applying the most modern method and ways strengthening cooperation with legal-protection organs. Being taken the complication of the narcocondition in the region into account one of the priority directions is the struggle a\gainst illegal drugs and pyshotropic substances trafficking in the activity of the customs authorities. At the same time the operational-investigation activity of the customs authorities was strengthened, in the detection and prevention of smuggling channels, evasion from paying of customs payments and other legal violations by the preventive-prophylactic measure in the activity of the operational activity were moved out. In connection with determined crime and other legal violation facts carrying out execution, investigation and preliminary investigation making answer of guilty people was provided.

As a result of implemented complex measures 3005 legal violation facts were detected in 2009.

Out of these facts 162 facts were with criminal character and the value of captured smuggling objects and other things was 688 thousand 686 manats. Corresponding measures for crime prosecution of 160 guilty men in commiting of criminal actions were taken.

With the object of providing the fulfilment of the «Programme (2007-2012 year) about struggle against illegal drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors and spreading of drug addiction» approved by decree No 2271 on June 28, 2007 of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, preventing illegal transportation of narcotics through a customs border of the Republic of Azerbaijan, not to let use of the country territory as «transition point» as a result of implemented measures 65 facts in connection with illegal drugs trafficking were detected during 2009 year. For these facts 319 kg 907 grammes drug, 208 kg 825 grammes hashish, 61 kg 870 grammes heroin, 48 kg 885 grammes opium, 326.92 grammes marijuana, 1 kg 982 grammes psychotropic substance (ampoule, capsule and pill forms), 16.5 grammes metadon, 10.819 grammes methamphetamine substances were captured. For these facts 66 men and 15 women altogether 81 people were called to account.

In connection with illegal drug trafficking out of captured people were 39 Azerbaijan, 17 Iran, 7 Pakistan, 6 Russia, 4 Uzbekistan, 2 Nigeria, 2 Turkey, 1 Georgia, 1 India, 1 Lithuania, 1 Cambodia citizens.

Analysis of detected facts and operational information in 2009 year approves efforts to use, of route Iran-Azerbaijan-Russia and Iran-Azerbaijan-China by narcosmugglers.

The analysis of the detected facts shows increase of committed narcosmuggling cases by the organizational criminal groups during last years.

In the 2009 th year 13 organizational criminal group and narcogroup being busy with illegal drugs trafficking were detected and rendered harmless.

From May 8, 2009 till June 10, 2009 as a result of implemented complex operational investigation and investigation measures 6 transnational organizational groups were exposed. Over 50 kg drug with strong influence, heroin was taken. During these measures a great narcochannel for transportation of drugs to Pakistan-Iran-Azerbaijan, then to China and Italy organized by narcobusinessmen of Pakistan and Nigeria was detected and 15 people trying to transport drugs through secret storage places made specially by this Channel: 7 people from Pakistan, 3 people from Uzbekistan, 1 person from Nigeria, 2 people from Azerbaijan, 1 person from Lithuania, 1 person from Cambodia (9 men, 6 women) were captured and called to account.

During the 2009 th year according to administrative offence facts against customs regulations 2843 facts were detected. 596 legal people (150 foreign legal people) and 2238 natural people (887 foreigners) were called to account. Over 1 million 790 thousand manats penalty, and in the value 750 thousand 215 manats confiscation were applied on shown people.

According to their amount most of detected adminustrative offence facts -346 facts are offences connecting with undeclaring or incorrectly declaring of commodities and means of transport. Out of o\ther administrative offences facts were: secret transportation of 143 commodities, 293 temporary import, 32 import with excise mark and others were connected with other violations.

According to the law «About monetary regulation» and other legislation acts customs authorities being monetary control organ implement monetary conrol on transportation of currency and monetary riches through a customs border of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in connection with import-export operations obedience currency legislation. As a result of implemented measures against violation of monetary legislation by customs authorities in 2009 as a legal violation object 3 kg 721 grammes gold in bar and adornment form, 313 numbers silver objects, 236000 US dollar were captured.

The decree «About additional measures in the regulation sphere of alcoholic drinks, ethyl (food) alcoholic and tobacco production, import and sale» of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and by evasion from tax during transportation of alcoholic drinks, ethyl (food) alcoholic and tobacco products and violation cases of application regulations of excise marks resolute measures were implemented by customs authorities. Over 1 million 640 hiousand numbers cigarettes produced in foregn countries, 113 litres spirit, 9480 numbers alcoholic drinks. Without excise mark being tried to transport by legal ways were captured.

As a result of implemented measures in the prevention sphere of transportation of cultural riches by illegal way from the country 5 numbers kitchen objects assuming cultural and historical importance and 1 number figures as a legal violation object were taken.

As a result of implemented operational measures according to 1 fact 43 kg 118 grammes toxic substance mercury was taken from illegal trafficking and collected materials were sent to the internal affairs organs.

Besides this as a legal violatiom object 1 number «Glock-19» type pistol and its 31 numbers 9 millimetres cartridge, 45 numbers cartridge, 2 numbers military destination radiostation, 1334 numbers mobile pl\hone, 1038 numbers religious books, 6695 numbers DVD disks, 14 kg black caviar, 500 litres oil products 13.8 kg coffee being considered harmful for organism and being production of Armenia were captured and corresponding measure was taken.

During the 2009 th year corresponding fulfilment and investigation about 8 crimes and 8 administrative offence-facts were implemented by the Struggle Head Office Against Legal Violations in the Customs Sphere of the State Customs Committee. Over 70 thousand manats penalty and confiscation were applied on people commiting legal violation and payment of penalties were provided.

During the account period the following operational-investigation measures were implemented by the Operational Office of the Struggle Head Office Against Legal Violations in the Customs Sphere of the State Customs Committee:

On March 31, 2009 24000 numbers cigarettes without excise marks produced in the foreign country were detected from the cargo place of the motor vehicle with mark VAZ-2107, state registration No 90 BZ098 driven by the citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan. As a result of continued operational measures on the same day 432600 numbers cigarettes with diferent mark without excise mark and 202 numbers alcoholic drinks with origin of Russia were detected and taken.

On April 19, 2009 19970 grammes hashish in 20 numbers cellophane parcels detected and taken from the cargo place of the motor vehicle with mark VAZ-21011, state registration 10 HA 692 driven by Kh. Agayev and T.Ismayilov sitting in it as a passenger.

On May 5, 2009 19 kg 860 grammes opium was detected from inside of two numbers polyethyline sacks beforehand hidden and brought to the territory of Baku-Shamakhi highway in 35 kilometres in the side of the road in the dump by the driver R.Babashov of the car with mark VAZ-21150, state registration 09 BH513 and the citizen of Iran Tavakkoli Kordlar Asad Karim oglu.

On October 19, 2009 7 kg 188 grammes hashish was dectected from inside of the parcel in the hand of the Russian citizen E.Kishiyev, passenger got out motor vehicle opel with Astara mark, state registration 44BN483 belonging to the citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan R.Salayev.

On December 5, 2009 38 kg 385 grammes hashish was detected from the cargo place of the motor vehicle with mark Mercedes-Benz, state registration 10 GUI 21 driven by the citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan F.Agayev.

In 2009 customs authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan also actively took part in some international and joint operational measures with the regional level.

In 2009 taking the importance of the cynological service in the struggle against illegal drugs trafficking into account with the object of strengthening this sphere some measures were implemented.

In 2009 there were 17 service dogs. During the same year their numbers were reached 39.

These dogs were trained and prepared for searching narcotics and out of them were handed to:

1 dog for Nackchivan State Customs Committee, 2 dogs for Astara Customs Office, 5 dogs for the Head Customs Office in the Air Transport, 1 dog for Baku Head Customs Office, 1 dog for Khachmaz Customs Office. At the same time fitness of dogs were examined. For age and illness of dogs cleaning from balance was provided. Breeding was organized in the Cynological Centre.

According to decision No 39 on March 19, 2009 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan drugs being considered abolition by the legislation in determined amount was taken from the Working Group of the State Commission For Struggle Against Illegal Drugs Trafficking and corresponding condition was created for keeping. Corresponding to order No 058 on June 9, 2009 of SCC for preparation of service dogs use of them in the training process was provided.

In 2009 at the same time according to decree on February 6, 2009 «About making changes and additions to the structure of the SCC of the Republic of Azerbaijan» of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Regulations of the Cynological Centre, in connection with the organization of its structure and activity important documents were prepared and they were approved by the corresponding order of the Committee. A great repair and inovation works were implemented, heating and water lines system was changed.

In 2009 as a result of application of cynological dogs ten narcotic smuggling facts were detected, for this facts a great deal of narcotic was taken from illegal trafficking.

Employes of the Head Office with the object of the legal basis improvement took actively part in the preparation process of the following normative-legal acts:

-taking of preventive measures against import-export of smuggling and false (piracy) commodities, corresponding offers in the strengthening direction of responsibility for administrative offences being against customs regulations were prepared and sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, consequently on May 26, 2009 «With the object of strengthening of responsibility against import of false or bad quality commodities, and administrative offences being against customs regulations the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan about making addition or changes to the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan» was received and came into the force on June 24, 2009.

-With the object of provision of demands for drugs for use of cynological dogs training the projects of the legislation acts were prepared and sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan consequently «About trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors» about making additions and changes to the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in connection of coming into the force of the same law the decree of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers were received.

In 2009 the following courses and seminars were organized and holding of them was provided by the Head Office:

-On April 13-15, 2009 training course «Fulfilment of activities about customs legal violations»;

-In May 2009 with the object of the improvement professions in the operational-investigation activity sphere of 25 employees of customs authorities one month course in the Police Academy of the MIA:

-On July 24, 2009 the seminar on «Preparation rule of the primary documnentation about committed, being committed or being prepared crimes»;

-On September 2-3, 2009 the seminar on «In connection with legal violations in the customs sphere rules of fulfilment, detection of false and bad quality commodities, their pecularities and other indices»;

-On September 23-29, 2009 the corresponding course learning taking mechanism of finger print of stopped people, with the object of practically learning for employees of the research and investigation organs of the Committee Central Apparatus, Struggle departments against customs legal violations of the Committee system.

Taking special importance of the international and regional cooperation in the improvement of the struggle rationality against smuggling and customs legal violations into account in 2009 the expansion of the bilateral and polysided relations with the legal-protection blocks of the foreign customs services were continued.

In April 2009 the meeting of the working group between Azerbaijan-Turkey Customs Services was held in Baku. The present position and future prespectives of the legal-protection blocks cooperation of Azerbaijan-Turkey Customs Services were discussed and corresponding decision were received.

In May 2009 the organization and holding of II meeting Customs Services Heads Council Legal-protection Departments Chiefs Committee of the CIS participant-states were provided. 15 questions about the legal-protection activity were discussed and corresponding decision were received.

During this meeting «Joint Measures Plan in the struggle sphere against customs legal vioaltions in 2009-2010 years» was signed between the Russian Federal Customs Service and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaiajn.

On July 30-31, 2009 the meeting of Azerbaijan Turkey customs services delegations was held. During the meeting strengthening of the mutual relations in the legal-protection sphere, the expansion of the information exchange were discussed and the protocol was signed.

On September 9-10, 2009 the working meeting about development of the bilateral cooperation in the struggle sphere against customs legal violations between Russian Federal Customs Service and the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan was held in Saint-Petersburg city. At the meeting the cooperation level of the legal-protection blocks was positively valued. Especially importance of the continuation of the preventive information exchange level improvement and the organization of the joint operational measures was expressed and it was reflected in the protocol about the results of the working meeting.

On October 8, 2009 the SCC representatives took part in II meeting held in Yalta city of the Ukraine of the Customs Services Heads Council Legal-protection Departments Chiefs Committee of the CIS participant-states and in the joint meeting of the o\ffice chiefs headquarter and experts for struggle against customs legal violations of the same Committee. 13 questions were discussed and corresponding decision was received in the meeting.

On November 11-13, 2009 the representatives of the Committee took part in 18 th meeting of the research and investigation heads of the European customs services. This meeting was the con\tinuation of the held 17 th meeting in Baku city. In this meeting some questions of the legal-protection activity of the customs authorities were discussed and corresponding decisions were received.

During the 2009 th year exchange of information continuously was held with the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) and close cooperation was held. The information and the reviews were sent by CARICC to customs authorities for use in the daily activity.

On December 8-9, 2009 the representatives of the Head Office took part in the 8 th meeting of the Mutual Understanding Memorandum parties for the regional cooperation in the control sphere on narcotics and in the inaugration ceremony of the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre about struggle against illegal drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors.

On December 15, 2009 the working meeting of the operational departments heads of the border customs authorities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan was organized and implemented in «Samur» customs post of Khachmaz Customs Office. The existing exchange of interrogation-information, cooperation trafficking, pecularities of the operational condition in the customs border of two states, the present position and development perspectives of the cooperation in the legal-protection sphere of the customs authorities having the same border of Russia-Azerbaijan of parties representatives were discussed and the protocol about the meeting results was signed.

The cooperation with the Legal Protection Net (CEN) of the World Customs Organization and «RILO-MOSCOW» being the Regional organization of this Organization was strengthened by the Head Office. In connection with the detected smuggling facts by Azerbaijan customs authorities as a sample 2 directions were sent to customs services of member countries by CEN.