Ministry of Internal Affairs on Operation against Drug Traffickers in Balakan (UPDATED)

The Ministry of Interior issued a formal notice of holding the operation against drug dealers in the Balakan region of the country (430 km from Baku).

The operation was held with riot police forces, the Office for Combating Organized Crime and the local police. During the operation, 9 people were arrested, including members of an organized group engaged in the cultivation of drug plants, production and marketing of drugs. Two of them were previously judged.

During the search in their apartments, two assault rifles, two pistols, eight hand grenades, bullets and so on weapons and ammunition were confiscated.

Also seized were 9.2 kilograms of marijuana and 1,800 nurtured bushes of hemp. A criminal case is under investigation, the report said.

In turn, local sources told Turan that among those detained there were three well-known drug dealers and the operation was carried out mainly in the village Gerekli. Most of the detainees came from this village. -03D-

2015 April 02 (Thursday) 13:25:20

The head department to combat drugs in MIA together with the Balakan police department conducted a major operation in the area last night. The object of the operation was organized groups linked to drug trafficking, their production and smuggling.

According to local residents, dozens of members of the group were arrested. Among them there is a well-known drug dealer.

In turn, sources in the law enforcement authorities confirmed this information. According to reliable sources, about 10 people involved in drug trafficking were detained. The Interior Ministry has not commented on the operation and the number of the detainees.

Note that Balakan is the most north-western region of Azerbaijan, which borders with Georgia and Dagestan. -03B04-