MOSCOW. Jan 30 (Interfax) - Russia and Honduras have signed an agreement to collaborate in fighting cocaine trafficking, the Russian Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) said on Wednesday.
FSKN chief Viktor Ivanov signed the agreement with the Honduran security ministry during a visit to the Latin American country.
The accord stipulates that the FSKN and the Honduran ministry have extensive contacts, exchange experience, and join forces in personnel training," the FSKN told Interfax.
"Russia and Honduras will be able to carry out joint search operations," it said.
"Russia's cooperation with Central American countries is very significant as that region is the main channel for the transportation of cocaine from South America to Europe, and this is a potential threat to Russia as well," the FSKN quoted Ivanov as saying.
Last month Ivanov said the FSKN had been seizing increasing amounts of cocaine, which had until recently been considered an exotic drug in Russia.
"The volumes of cocaine seizures have grown approximately sixfold," he said. This was the result of the performance of drug control services and "the cocaine pressure on Europe and on Russia," Ivanov said.