MOSCOW. May 30 (Interfax) - The Russian Interior Ministry has recorded a rise in teenagers committing drug-related crimes, according to Alexander Zubkov, deputy chief analyst at the ministry's main directorate for drug control.
"Unfortunately, teen crime is increasingly taking on organized form. Organized drug crime has risen by 12.5%, with 530 of such crimes detected last year. In addition, the number of minors who committed crimes as members of an organized group of accomplices has risen by 9.5%," Zubkov said at a roundtable on combatting drug addition, organized by the Federation Council's committee for constitutional legislation on Thursday.
One way to prevent teen involvement in drug trafficking is by imposing effective legislative restrictions, he said.
The ministry proposes to consider extending Article 150 of the Criminal Code with a penalty for "engaging a minor in committing a drug-related crime," Zubkov said.
The illegal drug business is keen on the underage who are the main risk group, this is particularly true of regions, the official said.