Amur Drug Control Destroyed 3 Trains with Hemp

In the fields of the Amur region, hemp is a very common weed, and it is very difficult to get rid of it without joint efforts. However, without this work, the fight against drug addiction and drug production in the region is impossible, therefore, the activities of law enforcement agencies within the framework of the All-Russian operational and preventive operation "MAK" are of particular importance. Recently, the results of the anti-drug work of security forces in the Amur region became known.

As the press service of the Federal Drug Control Service of Russia for the Amur Region reported to the agency,

In the region, 4,753 hectares of land are contaminated with wild hemp, mainly in the south of the region. Of the 20 districts of the region, hemp grows in 16, and about 40% of all contaminated areas are hemp in agricultural crops, and the rest of the "grass" grows on wastelands and abandoned farms.

In 2006, during inspections of areas by drug police of the Amur Region, together with territorial executive authorities, 433 foci of wild hemp growing on an area of ​​more than 2.5 thousand hectares were identified. The destruction of hemp was carried out in 3 ways: chemical, mechanical and manual. The most effective method is chemical, which was used in 30% of cases. District administrations, military personnel, public organizations, law enforcement agencies, agricultural enterprises, etc. took part in the work to destroy Datura grass.

In total, more than 9,346 tons of drug-containing plants were destroyed on an area of ​​1,827.3 hectares (according to the press service, this is 3 trains full of hashish). It is worth noting that the destruction of hemp is a very difficult task, and not only because of the mass contamination of large areas by this plant, but also due to the long-term germination of seeds: destruction must be carried out systematically, annually for 5-7 years on the same site, observing the agrotechnical processing times.

There are also problems with the irrational use of funds for this work. According to the source, the results of the work on the destruction of hemp showed that dispersing funds across districts allocated from the regional budget under a targeted program is ineffective. It is necessary to concentrate financial resources among those who are able to carry out all activities in full and have all the necessary forces, including equipment. At the round table meeting, where the results of Operation Mak were announced, it was noted that it would be advisable to allocate funds primarily to the destruction of large-scale outbreaks. One of the options voiced during the round table was the announcement of a competition to carry out work on the destruction of hemp.

As for the drug situation in the Amur Region in general, according to the Department of Health, there are about 3 thousand registered drug addicts in the region. The drug addiction rate in the region still exceeds the national average: in 2005, it was 270 people per 100 thousand Amur residents, which exceeds the national average by almost 10%. Almost two thirds of drug users are young people under 30, and the rate of teenage drug addiction exceeds the national average by 5 times.

Some official statistics: the all-Russian operational and preventive operation "MAK" was conducted in the Amur Region from May 29 to October 31 by drug control agencies in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies. Land users and landowners, in accordance with Article 10.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, were given 114 orders for failure to take measures to destroy hemp. Drug control agencies also registered 16 hemp and poppy crops. During the period of Operation MAK, 344 crimes were identified, 289 of which were serious and especially serious. 28 crimes committed by organized groups or by groups by prior conspiracy were solved.

Over the 5 months of the operation, drug control officers have seized about one and a half tons of narcotics from illegal circulation: 1 ton 459 kg of marijuana, 8 kg of hashish, more than 5 kg of hashish oil and 3.5 kg of potent substances and precursors. In total, 2 tons 473 kg of narcotics and psychotropic substances have been seized from illegal circulation since the beginning of the year. Among the regions of Russia, Amur Oblast is in first place for this indicator, and in third place for the number of significant seizures.

Alexander Mikhailov