During 6 months of 2021, as a result of complex search operations carried out by law enforcement agencies in the fight against drug addiction and drug trafficking, a total of 4131 criminal cases were revealed. Of them, 1493 were related to the illegal sale of drugs, 2391 were related to the illegal acquisition and possession of drugs, 191 were related to the illegal cultivation of narcotic plants, and 56 were related to other crimes of this category.
A total of 3 tons 466 kg 596,472 grams of drugs and psychotropic substances, 2 tons 142 kg 635,117 grams of heroin, 671 kg 044,478 grams of marijuana, 243 kg 092,165 grams of opium, 71 kg 560.56 grams of hashish , 89,679 grams of cocaine, 338 kg 174,473 grams of other drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from the illicit trafficking. Also, 37 kg 012.1 gr of strong substance and 4.05 gr of toxic substance were seized from illegal circulation during the mentioned period.
During the reporting period, 2798 people were prosecuted for drug trafficking, including 6 people aged 16-18, 218 people aged 18-25, 497 people aged 26-29, and 2077 people aged 30 and over. Of these, 2730 were men and 68 were women. Of those prosecuted, 35 are foreign nationals.
Of the 35 foreign nationals prosecuted, 13 were citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 7 of Georgia, 6 of Turkey, 3 of Ukraine and 6 of Russia. A total of 825 kg of various drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from foreign citizens.
During 6 months of 2021, 344,059 wild drug-containing plants weighing 139 tons 586 kg 977 gr from 759,984 hectares were identified and destroyed in an appropriate manner with the participation of representatives of relevant agencies that was organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Border Service and other relevant agencies.
During 6 months of 2021, law enforcement agencies revealed 107 facts of smuggling drugs and psychotropic substances into the country, and on those facts 1 ton 713 kg 289,914 grams of various drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from the illicit trafficking.
In total, 181 crimes were committed in groups and 1 ton 167 kg 821,453 grams of drugs were seized from the illicit trafficking.
During the reporting period, 1242 criminal cases were committed by previously convicted persons and 591 kg 559,069 gr of various drugs and psychotropic substances were confiscated from them.
The analysis shows that compared to the first half of 2020, the total number of facts related to drug trafficking and psychotropic substances detected by law enforcement agencies during the relevant period of the current year is 1244, including 478 facts of illegal sales, the number of facts related to illegal acquisition and possession without the purpose of sale increased by 732, the number of facts related to illegal cultivation of narcotic plants increased by 21, and the number of other crimes of this category increased by 13.
Also, the weight of drugs seized from illegal trafficking increased by 1 ton 157 kg 053, 272 grams, the number of persons prosecuted increased by 865 people, and the number of women increased by 23 people.
Despite a 36-fold decrease in the number of cases of smuggling drugs into the country, the total weight of seized drugs increased by 415 kg. At the same time, although the number of crimes committed as a group decreased by 13 facts, the amount of drugs increased by 397 kg 821.4 gr.
In accordance with the requirements of the "Rules for the destruction of confiscated drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan" and the relevant Order of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 181 of October 6, 2005, organized by the Working Group of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, on May 19-20 of the current year, the Destruction Commission issued a decision to destroy a large amount of confiscated drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors by 591 court verdicts and as a result,more than 1 ton 737 kilograms of various types of drugs and psychotropic substances (909 kg 985 gr heroin, 516 kg 281 grams of marijuana, 240 kg 285 grams of opium, 27 kg 473 grams of hashish, 1 kg 944 grams of cocaine, 40 kg 312 grams -18272 psychotropic substances), including 21190 hemp plants were destroyed by burning with the participation of relevant organizations and the media.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan referred 31,307 people to the Republican Narcology Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan to identify all types of intoxication. Of them, 1,238 out of 2,264 people examined for drug use were identified as users and necessary measures were taken in this regard. During the reporting period, 2,703 people were hospitalized. Currently, 828 patients are being treated in 3 stations under the methadone replacement program.
According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as of December 31, 2020, the number of people registered with a diagnosis of drug addiction in the country was 33,788. Of these, 28,318 are dispensaries and 5,470 are prophylactically registered. 618 of them are women. 23,537 are opioid users and 10,251 are cannabinoid users. In 2020, 2723 people were registered with the relevant diagnosis, and 1856 people were deregistered.
Also, compared to the same period last year, the number of people registered at the Republican Narcology Center increased by 96 people during 6 months of this year (856 people in 2020, 952 people in 2021).
At present, the number of convicts serving sentences for illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances in penitentiaries is 5,970. At the same time, the number of people detained in pre-trial detention centers (under investigation) for crimes related to drug trafficking and psychotropic substances is 1,833, and the number of convicts sentenced to compulsory drug treatment is 3,556.
During the reporting period, 293 people were infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Azerbaijan. In general, since 1988, 8989 people with confirmed HIV diagnosis have been registered at the Republican AIDS Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan (8687 citizens of Azerbaijan, 302 foreigners). 6434 people infected with HIV are men and 2555 are women. 3418 of them were infected with HIV as a result of injecting drug use. 2714 people from this category are currently registered in dispensaries.
Of the 339 patients involved in antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the first six months of 2021, 31 were injecting drug users. As of June 31, 2021, the total number of HIV patients involved in ART was 6,755, including 2301 people are injecting drug users.
In accordance with the State Program, the Permanent Working Group of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking carried out purposeful work to prevent drug trafficking and the spread of drug addiction through awareness-raising using the opportunities of modern information technology, coordination of institutions operating in this field has been organized, and as a result of mutual cooperation, the scope of public awareness work has been expanded.
Thus, the Work Plan of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking for 2021 was prepared, approved and implemented.
In connection with the implementation of paragraph 4.1.23 of the Action Plan for the implementation of the State Program, an annual report was prepared by the permanent Working Group of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The 802 hotline operating in the Working Group of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking received 52 appeals during the first six months of this year, 13 of which were related to illegal sale of drugs (criminal proceedings were instituted on the basis of 9 appeals, 3 information unconfirmed, operational investigations are underway on 1 fact), 21 were related to drug treatment (16 people were admitted for treatment), and 18 were related to other issues. The mentioned appeals were sent to the relevant authorities for appropriate measures.
At the same time, the "Online Appeals" section of the website of the State Commission for Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking www.nmdk.gov.az received 30 appeals, 7 of which were related to illegal sale of drugs (criminal proceedings were instituted on the basis of 5 appeals, 1 information not confirmed, 1 case is under investigation), 9 were drug treatment (4 were admitted for treatment), and 14 were related to other issues.
In order to further strengthen the anti-drug propaganda work, the permanent Working Group of the State Commission signed joint action plans with the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice, the Baku City Department of the Ministry of Education and the Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency and implemented a number of measures.
At the same time, The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on February 3, 2021 in order to strengthen cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking and psychotropic substances and their precursors, to involve relevant non-governmental organizations, including other civil society institutions in the implementation of social measures, to cooperate with the NGO Coalition against Drug Abuse.
In order to raise awareness about the harm of drug addiction to society and human health, the measures taken in this area and their consequences, articles were published in accordance with the schedule of the column opened in the newspaper "Iki Sahil".
During the relevant period of the current year, in connection with the implementation of paragraph 4.4.38 of the Action Plan for the implementation of the State Program, a video on the activities of the "802 hotline" telephone service, "Drugs are a borderless disaster" and "Protect the sun inside, say no to drugs" social videos in the animated format about the harms of drug addiction was demonstrated on electronic billboards and metro stations in a number of streets and avenues ofcapital,as well as broadcast on television channels.
In accordance with paragraph 4.4.9 of the Action Plan for the implementation of the State Program, 26 new social signs with information on drug addiction and drug complications were installed in the Penitentiary Service Guard Regiment, convoy battalion and penitentiaries, and 17 boards were submitted to the Baku City Office of the Ministry of Education for placement in educational institutions .
In connection with the implementation of item 4.4.35 of the Action Plan for the implementation of the State Program, 20 social boards is planned to be demonstrated in “Memar Ajami”, “Koroglu”, “Azadlig” , “Hazi Aslanov”, “Ahmadli”, “Khalqlar Dostlugu”, “Inshaatchilar”, “Nasimi”, “Ganjlik”, “Nariman Narimanov” and other stations within a year.
Representatives of the Working Group of the State Commission took part in online zone seminars and other events on "Strengthening the fight against drug addiction among young people during the Covid-19 pandemic" in February and March this year.
In accordance with item 4.4.17 of the Action Plan for the implementation of the State Program, an online event on "Drugs are a borderless disaster" was held on April 7 with the Azerbaijan Technical University, online seminar-meeting on "Actual problems of combating drugs and drug trafficking" with Yasamal District Youth and Sports Department was held on April 15, webinar on "The role of awareness-raising activities in the fight against drug addiction" with the Baku Music Academy was held on April 22, on April 29, Baku State University organized an online scientific-practical conference on the implementation of the "State Program on Combating Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors and Drug Addiction for 2019-2024.
In addition, on the eve of June 26 - "International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking" webinars were held at Baku State University, Azerbaijan Technical University, Azerbaijan University of Tourism and Management, West Caspian University and Azerbaijan State Pedagogical College. At the same time, in accordance with the relevant instructions of the Ministry of Education, events in the form of video conferences on "Let's learn the truth about drugs" were organized in other higher and secondary vocational education institutions.
Employees of the Working Group of the State Commission also participated in educational events in the form of a video conference organized jointly with the commissions on combating drug addiction and drug trafficking in Sabail, Nasimi, Narimanov, Nizami, Binagadi, Sumgayit, Shirvan and Gabala city and district executive authorities of Baku. At the same time, a series of events were held by other city and district commissions.
At the same time, a total of 7,750,000 active subscribers were provided with the relevant text SMS notification by Azercell, Bakcell and Azerfon mobile operators through the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies, (DC Working Group: Let's learn the truth about drugs and never use it! Www.nmdk.gov.az, Hotline: 802)
The slogan "Let's say no to drugs together" has been displayed on electronic information terminals and monitors on buses since June 24 (within 5 days) through the Baku Transport Agency.
