Kazakhstan adopts program on combating drug trafficking

Kazakhstan, Astana, Nov. 19 / Trend D. Mukhtarov / Around 6.2 billion tenge ($ 1 - 150 tenge) were allocated from 2012 to 2016 in Kazakhstan to combat drug trafficking, Kazakh Interior Minister Kalmuhambet Kasymov said at the government meeting in the Majilis on "State of law and order and the main activity of the interior bodies" today. "Kazakhstan has adopted the second branch program for 2012-2016," he added. "Its main purpose, as the first one, is to protect our southern borders from drug trafficking and its budget (five years - 6.2 billion tenge) is designed primarily to strengthen the frontier (4.1 billion tenge) and customs bodies (804.7 million), Interior Ministry - 182.2 million tenge." He recalled that the republic has two problems: the first one is the transit of Afghan heroin, the second one is the presence of its own raw material base in the Shu valley, Zhambyl region. "The main efforts are concentrated on revealing major drug traffickers and drug groups," he said. "Around 16 special operations, so-called "controlled supplies" have been held, as well as with the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry's bodies." He added that nine gangs which committed 60 drug-related crimes were neutralized. Nearly 800 kg of drugs, including more than 32 kilograms of heroin were seized. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az