MINSK. Dec 3 (Interfax) - The Ostrovets district court has found a Russian man guilty of illegal trafficking of a large quantity of drugs, the Grodno regional court's press service said.
"In May, the accused V. conspired with a group of unidentified individuals [...] and illegally acquired, under unknown circumstances and outside Belarus, over 3,000 pieces of dark brown resinous substance - the dangerous drug hashish - weighing in total around 290 kilograms, for further distribution in Russia," the statement reads.
According to the inquiry, the drugs were placed between the bottom and the floor of the car "for the convenience of hidden transportation."
The drugs were discovered during an enhanced vehicle inspection at the Kotlovka checkpoint in the Grodno region. It is known that the man was in transit, driving from Lithuania to Russia.
The Russian was found guilty of illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of a large amount of narcotic drugs by a group of people for further distribution, and illegal transportation within the Eurasian Economic Union of a large amount of narcotic drugs by a group of accomplices.
"By totality of the crimes, through partial addition of the sentences imposed, the definitive sentence has been imposed of 17 years of imprisonment at a high-security correctional facility," the court's press service said.
The ruling has yet to take effect and may be appealed.