MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - Approximately $18-20 billion dollars in drug money is annually laundered in banks in Russia, Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) Director Viktor Ivanov has said.
"The drug money is no longer kept under one's pillow, it is infused into the banking system, amongst others. We assess this market in Russia at approximately $18-20 billion a year. This money is laundered in the banking system and invested somewhere. It is laundered, invested and practically indistinguishable," Ivanov told reporters on Thursday.
Some 3.5 tonnes of Afghan heroin, or 15% of the total amount smuggled into Russia, are seized each year, he said.
"Fifteen percent of the illegal turnover is seized, and this is a global rate. Still, about 85% reaches the market," Ivanov said.
Last year, the Federal Drug Control Service froze 1 billion rubles worth of assets of drug lords via court.