Law enforcement, backed by the Grom police unit, carried out a prolonged, meticulously planned operation aimed at dismantling a covert channel that moved illegal psychoactive substances from the Baltic states toward Russia. The initiative, backed by reports from MIA Media, underscores a coordinated effort to disrupt international narcotics trafficking and protect public safety across border regions. During the operation, authorities in Saint Petersburg intercepted a truck arriving from Belarus, triggering a comprehensive examination that revealed cannabis briquettes weighing a total of 402 kilograms. The seizure marked a significant breakthrough in tracing the supply chain and identifying key links in the trafficking network, as investigators quickly traced the cargo to its intended recipient. The ensuing steps involved a targeted sting to reconstruct the drug distribution scheme and arrest individuals implicated in the plot. In a later phase, security forces seized a shipment of marijuana transported from Lithuania concealed inside two large 209‑liter barrels, each misrepresented as foreign engine oil. This deception demonstrated the sophistication of the smuggling scheme and the lengths to which traffickers would go to conceal illegal cargo. As the operation continued, authorities detained four additional participants tied to the network, with officials signaling that the total number of involved persons could still rise as the investigation unfolds. (Source: MIA Media)
In another development, authorities reported an attempt by a drug courier to move 25 kilograms of illegal substances by taxi from Saint Petersburg to Novosibirsk. The courier was intercepted in the Tyumen region, effectively breaking another leg of the trafficking chain. The suspect now faces a potential prison sentence that could extend up to two decades, reflecting the severity of penalties for drug smuggling and distribution. This case illustrates the ongoing vigilance of regional law enforcement agencies in monitoring motor transport routes and urban-to-urban drug movement, as well as the broader effort to deter cross-border trafficking that stretches across various jurisdictions. (Source: MIA Media)