STAVROPOL. May 30 (Interfax-AVN) - All units of the North Caucasus regional border guard directorate will be on high alert from Thursday until the end of May Day and Victory Day holidays, the directorate's press service told Interfax-Military News Agency.
"The regional directorate's command is traditionally taking such measures. They are aimed at preventing force majeure situations in the area of responsibility and to ensure personal security of servicemen and reliable protection of border garrisons and the most important facilities," a press service official said,
Over 330 border violators and nearly the same number of border zone trespassers were detained in the directorate's AoR in the first quarter of 2004. The directorate personnel detained about 10 suspected rebels and seized over 800 pieces of ammunition. Fines totaling over RUB1m (USD34,520) were imposed, and smuggled goods worth about RUB4.5m (USD155,360) seized.
More than 3.1 million people and over 380,000 vehicles were allowed to cross the border.