Russia, in cooperation with US, seizes cocaine, arrests traffickers

Published: Updated:
Enable Read mode
100% Font Size

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday it had worked with US authorities to seize large quantities of cocaine and break up an international drug smuggling ring.

For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app

In a rare statement on law enforcement cooperation between Moscow and Washington, the FSB said it had seized 330 kilogrammes (728 lbs) of cocaine -- mostly in the Moscow region -- in a joint operation with the US Justice Department’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) this year.

Advertisement

Read more: Russia, Turkey to develop military ties despite US sanctions: FM

It said the joint operation, which began in St. Petersburg in May, helped identify and detain members of a criminal group smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe and Russia.

The FSB said that the amount of cocaine seized could have been sold for around 1 billion roubles ($13.6 million).

Russia’s bilateral relations with the United States are at post-Cold War lows, strained by issues ranging from the conflict in Syria to US allegations that Moscow meddled in its 2016 presidential election.

The countries continue to cooperate on international security and other global issues however.

The DEA and the US embassy in Moscow did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Top Content Trending