During the months of January-November 2023, the results of the fight against drug addiction and the illegal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors have been comparatively analyzed and summarized by the Permanent Working Group of the State Commission.

  A total of 9758 criminal facts were detected as a result of complex search and operation measures carried out by law enforcement agencies in the field of combating drug addiction and illegal drug trafficking during the months of January-November of this year. Of them, 3158 were related to the illegal sale of narcotic drugs, 6276 were related to the illegal acquisition and possession of narcotic drugs, 294 were related to the illegal cultivation of narcotic plants, and 30 were related to other crimes of this category.

   According to the discovered facts, 6 tons 719 kg 031,413 g of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances was generally confiscated from illegal circulation, of them 1 ton 886 kg 649,814 g was heroin, 3 tons 961 kg 758,574 g was marijuana, 265 kg 153,968 g was opium, 53 kg of opium 459,642 grams was hashish, 750,831 grams was cocaine, 407 kg 951,329 grams was psychotropic substances, 143 kg 307,255 grams was other narcotic drugs. Also, during the specified period, 50,901 pills of methadone, 95 pills of psychotropic substances, 16,630 pills of hemp plant, as well as 3 kg 197,368 g, 7703 capsules, 3591 pills and 25.55 g of powerful substances, 1 kg 613 g of toxic substances and 65,68 g of precursors were taken from illegal circulation.

   During the reporting period, 944,559 wild narcotic plants weighing 303 tons 122 kg 290.98 g were identified and destroyed accordingly from 420,494 hectares of land with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan and other relevant institutions that was organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

   The total value of 6 tons 719 kg 031,413 g of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances taken from illegal circulation during January-November 2023 is estimated as 269 million 290 thousand AZN.

   7,766 people were brought to criminal responsibility for illegal drug trafficking, 7,567 of them were men and 199 were women. A total of 695 kg, 092,048 g and 1,990 pills of various types of narcotics and psychotropic substances, 590 pills of powerful substances, and 568 (327 kg, 575 g) of narcotic hemp plants were taken from 89 foreign nationals that were brought to criminal responsibility.

   266 facts related to the smuggling of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances into the territory of the country were discovered by the law enforcement agencies. According to those facts, the total weight of illegal circulation is 3 tons 029 kg 595.76 g and 8730 pills of methadone, 95 pills of various types of drugs and psychotropic substances, 90,245 pills, 7,631 capsules, and 1 kg of 517 g of powerful substances, 40,682 g of precursors were removed.

   306 of the discovered crimes were committed in a group, and according to those facts, 2 tons 132 kg 892.71 g and 1270 pieces of methadone drug, 32 kg 213.1 g and 95 pills of psychotropic substance were taken from illegal trafficking and 189.9 g of strong substance was confiscated.

   3088 criminal acts were committed by previously convicted people and 1 ton 469 kg 604.46 g of various types of narcotics and psychotropic substances were confiscated from them.

Compared to January-November 2022, during the corresponding period of 2023,regarding the illegal circulation of narcotics and psychotropic substances, total number of facts discovered by law enforcement agencies decreased by 523,the number of facts related to the illegal sale of drugs decreased by  209, regarding illegal acquisition and retention without the purpose of sale decreased by 149,the number of facts related to the illegal cultivation of narcotic plants decreased by 100,number of other types of criminal facts decreased by 65, the number of group crimes decreased by 57 cases.

The number of crimes related to smuggling increased by 8 cases, the number of people brought to responsibility increased by 168 people, and the weight of drugs removed from illegal circulation increased by 1 ton, 466 kg, 653,751g.

   According to the information of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan, during the reporting period, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan redirected 81,668 people to the Republican Narcology Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the determination of all types of intoxication.

   Among them, 1340 of the 2321 people who underwent a medical examination to determine their drug use were found to be drug users, and necessary measures were taken in this regard.

Currently, 990 patients are receiving treatment under the methadone substitution treatment program in 3 centers (379 people at the Republic Drug Center, 446 people at the AIDS Center, 173 people at the Sumgayit Drug Center).

   According to the information provided by the Republican AIDS Center, there is a decrease in the number of new cases of human immunodeficiency virus infection among drug addicts in the country. During the past 11 months, 792 people were infected with HIV. 761 of them were citizens of Azerbaijan, and 31 were foreigners. Among the citizens of Azerbaijan, 64 people (8.4%) were injection drug users.

   112 educational meetings, 39 trainings, 3 cultural-mass events, 2 infotours, 1 art competition, 7 social projects, 1 bike ride and 1 marathon were organized by the Permanent Working Group of the State Commission during the months of January-November of this year.

   The "802" hotline phone call service received 1,125 citizen appeals, of which 202 were related to illegal drug trafficking, 384 related to drug addiction treatment, and 539 related to other issues (re-applying, explaining the terms of the legislation, procedures for compulsory treatment, etc.).586 letters have been addressed to the relevant authorities to take appropriate measures on the mentioned appeals.

   So,based on the information provided on the illegal circulation of drugs, relevant criminal cases were initiated and a large amount of drugs were seized from the illegal circulation,drug users are referred to specialized medical institutions for treatment based on their voluntary requests providing coordination with relevant organizations and citizens in an operative manner as well as psychological support for families suffering from drug addiction and the provisions of the current legislation were explained and necessary recommendations were given through the 802 hotline call service in order to prevent the spread of drugs and addiction.

Permanent Working Group of the State Commission for Combating Drug Addiction and Illegal Trafficking in Narcotics