Azernews.Az

BAKU – 22 foreign nationals were prosecuted in Azerbaijan over drug trafficking in the first half of 2011.

Almost 90 kg of narcotics were impounded from the expatriates, according to the state body on fighting drugs.

The foreigners included nine citizens of Iran, six citizens of Russia, four Georgian nationals, and one each from Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

In the first half of last year, 27 foreign citizens faced criminal charges and over 130 kg of narcotics were confiscated from them.

1,702 drug-related crimes have been reported in the country this year. 584 of the crimes concerned drug sale, while 1,066 - possession of drugs, 47 growing drugs, and the remaining five were other related offenses.

The number of such crimes has slightly decreased compared to the first half of 2010, when the figure was 1,837.

Law enforcers removed 436 kg of drugs from circulation in January-June 2011, including 196 kg of marijuana, 155 kg of hashish, 20 kg of opium, and 58 kg of heroin.

The number of drug users in Azerbaijan increased by 2,500 in 2010. 25,500 drug addicts, including about 500 women, are currently registered in the country.