MOSCOW. June 26 (Interfax) - The Russian Interior Ministry and the Federal Security Service (FSB) have disrupted a large drug-trafficking channel in the Novosibirsk region, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev said.
"Large-scale clandestine manufacture was eliminated in Novosibirsk in the period from December 2016 to April 2017. Almost 250 kilograms of synthetic substances were removed from illegal circulation during this operation alone," Kolokoltsev said.
Drug dealers were detained and six criminal cases were opened during this operation, he said.
The Russian Interior Ministry's press service, for its part, told Interfax that some 250 kilograms of synthetic drug substances and psychoactive substances, 300 kilograms of precursors, and 150 pieces of laboratory equipment were seized during the operation. Six active participants in the drug gang were detained.
"The gang manufactured and sold synthetic drugs in the Moscow, Novosibirsk, Omsk, and Sakhalin regions, as well as in the Primorye territory. Drug shipments were disguised as consumer goods," the press service said.
Drugs were sold by means of an online shop, the press center said.
"The online shop's proved sales reached over 200 million rubles during the period of events conducted from February 2016 to April 2017 alone," it said.