More than 5.1 tons of drugs seized from illegal circulation by Azerbaijani customs authorities have been destroyed, the Press and Public Relations Department of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan told APA.
Organized by the permanent Working Group of the State Commission on Combating Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking and with the participation of members of the commission consisting of employees of state bodies, as a result of customs control and operational-search measures carried out by customs authorities, a total of 5 tons, 168 kg, 332 grams of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were burned and destroyed in 24 criminal cases, which were seized from illegal circulation and for which a court decision to destroy them was adopted.
It was reported that the destruction operation, which was carried out in accordance with international standards and national legislation, based on the principle of transparency, was also observed by representatives of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the media and public organizations.
91.3% of those destroyed were more dangerous drugs: 4 tons 662 kg 185 grams of heroin and 58 kg 837 grams of methamphetamine, in addition, 369 kg 529 grams of opium, 77 kg 779 grams of hashish and other substances were also destroyed.
98.7% of these drugs, i.e. 5 tons 105 kg 990 grams in 17 cases, were intended for transit to European countries through the southern borders of Azerbaijan. The average illegal retail value of these destroyed drugs in Europe is more than EUR 272 million .
