During the first 9 months of this year, a total of 6,737 criminal cases were revealed as a result of complex search operations carried out by law enforcement agencies in the fight against drug addiction and drug trafficking. Of them, 2,440 were related to the illegal sale of drugs, 3,846 were related to the illegal acquisition and possession of drugs, 366 were related to the illegal cultivation of narcotic plants, and 85 were related to other crimes of this category.

   According to the revealed facts, 5 tons 880 kg 982 gr of drugs and psychotropic substances of which 2 tons 606 kg 080 gr of heroin, 1 ton 153 kg 841 gr of marijuana, 1 ton 297 kg 331 gr of opium, 71kg 954 gr of hashish, 89,679 gr of cocaine, 550 kg 974 gr of psychotropic substances, and  other 200 kg 713 gr drugs was generally confiscated from illicit trafficking. Also, 5327 methadone and 46893 hemp plants were seized from illicit trafficking.

  During the relevant period, 430,716 wild drug-containing plants weighing 173 tons 370 kg from 782,469 hectares were identified and destroyed in an appropriate manner.

4419 people were prosecuted for drug trafficking. 6 of them are 16-18 years old, 305 people are 18-25 years old, 768 people are 26-29 years old, and 3340 people are 30 years old and older. Of these, 4321 were men and 98 were women. In total, 3,231 of those prosecuted were unemployed, 1,627 had previously committed a crime, and 21 were previously registered.

  Of those prosecuted, 45 are foreign citizens. 19 of them were citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 9 of Georgia, 8 of Russia, 4 of Turkey, 3 of Ukraine, 1 of India and 1 of Pakistan. A total of about 1 ton 311 kg of various drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from foreign citizens.

  Law enforcement agencies revealed 264 facts related to the smuggling of drugs and psychotropic substances into the country, and on these facts 2 tons 807 kg 683 grams of various drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from illicit trafficking.

  Compared to 9 months of 2020, the total number of facts revealed by law enforcement agencies in connection with the illicit trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances during the relevant period of the current year is 2542, including 933 facts related to illegal sale, the number of facts related to illegal acquisition and possession without the purpose of sale increased to 1537, the number of facts related to the illegal cultivation of narcotic plants increased to 49, the number of other crimes in this category increased to 23.

  The weight of drugs seized from illicit trafficking increased by 1 ton 844 kg 226 gr, the weight of drugs smuggled into the country increased by 609 kg, the number of persons prosecuted increased by 1314, and the number of women increased by 38.

  The total value of more than 5 tons 650 kg of drugs and psychotropic substances seized from illicit trafficking in January-September 2021 is estimated at 155 million AZN ($ 91 million).