Joint operations: Russia, Pakistan to curb drug trafficking

MOSCOW: Russia and Pakistan have reached agreement on conducting joint operations to stop drug trafficking, Federal Drug Control Service of Russian Federation head Viktor Ivanov said on Monday.

Most importantly, it means an exchange of intelligence data between the two countries’ special services. He said the flow of Afghan drugs into Russia and Europe is “not weakening”.

“On the contrary, it is growing. That is why it is necessary to reverse the situation as soon as possible,” he was quoted as saying by the Voice of Russia. “Russia possesses information about drug labs and suppliers here, and Pakistan has information about places where drugs are made and where they are smuggled to other countries from.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2011.