MOSCOW. Dec 18 (Interfax-AVN) - This year Russia denied entry to 27 members of international terrorist groups and 16 activists of the Aum Shirikyo religious sect, Federal Security Service Director Nikolai Patrushev said at a Tuesday meeting with media editors-in-chief in Moscow.
He said entry was also denied to 17 missionaries of foreign religious organizations suspected of being connected with foreign intelligence services and constituting a public threat.
Since the beginning of the year the security services have identified over 160 senders of anonymous terrorist and extremist threats, Patrushev reported.
He said that this year the Federal Security Service in cooperation with the Federal Border Guard Service, the State Customs Committee and Interior Ministry as well as intelligence services of several foreign countries have conducted a number of operations to block international drug trafficking channels. Over two tonnes of drugs, including 600 kilos of heavy drugs, were confiscated on the basis of information obtained by security forces and with their participation.
Patrushev said illegal immigration is becoming an increasingly serious threat to national security. He said over 1.5 million foreigners and people without citizenship are living in Russia illegally.
They serve as a breeding ground for the formation of organized criminal groups. They also try to establish stable channels of sending militants to the planet's hot spots, Patrushev said.