The fight against illicit drug trafficking is in the prosecutors' focus

The prosecutor's offices are giving special attention to compliance with legislation in the sphere of combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors and analogues (hereinafter referred to as drugs).

The work of law enforcement agencies in this area is coordinated by the prosecutor's office, taking into account the evolving criminal situation and the changing vector of threats associated with drug trafficking.

It is worth noting that while in 2022 there was a slight increase in drug trafficking related crimes, with 408 such crimes detected (394 in 2021), in the first quarter of 2023, their number decreased to 109 (113).

The main efforts of the prosecutor's offices in coordinating the activities of law enforcement agencies are aimed at identifying individuals involved in drug trafficking and disrupting channels for their import into the republic.

This problem is relevant, as in 2022 the number of detected drug trafficking incidents decreased from 211 to 180.

Despite this, it is worth noting an increase in the effectiveness of detecting crimes committed by groups of individuals, from 44 to 61, and by organized criminal groups, from 26 to 45.

In 2022, law enforcement agencies seized 117 (121) large batches of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from illicit circulation. There is a positive trend in disrupting drug supply channels in 2022 - 4 (0). In 2022, 11 (4) premises equipped for the production and cultivation of high-quality cannabis were liquidated.

As a positive result, a decrease in the number of crimes of this category committed by minors is noted, from 16 to 11, including drug trafficking committed by them, from 10 to 6.

It is worth noting that the number of drug-addicted individuals registered with narcologists in the region increased from 939 to 950, while the number of drug poisoning incidents decreased from 14 to 3.

The decrease in drug poisoning incidents indicates the effectiveness of preventive work in

in this area.

Prosecutors play a special role in drug addiction prevention by participating in the implementation of comprehensive plans in the regions, aimed at taking effective measures to combat illicit drug trafficking, prevent drug use, including among children and youth, and socially rehabilitate drug addicts (hereinafter referred to as comprehensive plans).

Time has shown that the effective implementation of comprehensive plans positively affects the crime situation in the region.

Thus, the proper implementation of the comprehensive plan measures, with the coordinating role of the prosecutor's office, has already allowed for an improvement in the operational situation in the sphere of illicit drug trafficking in the first quarter of 2023.

In particular, in the Vitebsk and Polotsk districts, a twofold reduction in registered crimes in this area was achieved in the first quarter of 2023.

Based on the results of inspections conducted by the prosecutor's offices in June of the current year, taking into account the identified shortcomings on the part of individual subjects of drug addiction prevention, prosecutors have taken targeted response measures.

The fight against illicit drug trafficking will continue to be a priority area of prosecutorial supervision.

 

Deputy Head of the Department of the Vitebsk Regional Prosecutor's Office for Supervision of Inquiry and Operational-Investigative Activities A.N. Zaikin