COUNTERING DRUG TRAFFICKING - MEASURES TO BE TAKEN

ПРОТИВОДЕЙСТВИЕ НЕЗАКОННОМУ ОБОРОТУ НАРКОТИКОВ - МЕРЫ, КОТОРЫЕ НЕОБХОДИМО ПРИНЯТЬ

Овакимян Кристина Грачевна

студент, Институт социальных наук и массовых коммуникаций Факультет социологии и Организация работы с молодежью, Белгородский государственный национальный исследовательский университет,

РФ, г. Белгород

Богачев Роман Евгеньевич

Факультет иностранных языков Педагогического института Кафедра иностранных языков, Белгородский государственный национальный исследовательский университет,

РФ, г. Белгород

ABSTRACT

The article is devoted to the study of the current situation in the field of drug trafficking and its impact on public health, law and order and security of the country. The article also analyzes statistical data on drug trafficking in Russia. The basic measures on struggle against drug turnover, the basic kinds of criminal liability for crimes in the field of an illegal turnover of drugs, and also the initiatives coming from the Government of the Russian Federation on struggle against this crime are considered.

АННОТАЦИЯ

Статья посвящена исследованию текущей ситуации в сфере незаконного оборота наркотиков и ее влияния на здоровье населения, правопорядок и безопасность страны. В статье также анализируются статистические данные о незаконном обороте наркотиков в России. Рассмотрены основные меры по борьбе с оборотом наркотиков, основные виды уголовной ответственности за преступления в сфере незаконного оборота наркотиков, а также инициативы, исходящие от Правительства Российской Федерации по борьбе с этим преступлением.

Keywords: drugs, drug trafficking, criminal responsibility, law enforcement agencies, the fight against drug trafficking, drug-related crimes.

Ключевые слова: наркотики, наркобизнес, уголовная ответственность, правоохранительные органы, борьба с незаконным оборотом наркотиков, преступления, связанные с наркотиками.

The situation in Russia regarding drug trafficking currently remains an acute problem of the 21st century.  The acquisition, storage, transportation, manufacture, processing of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues is a major problem, moreover a factor of undermining the demographic and socio-economic potential and a threat to the national security of the country. Furthermore, there is not a single region in Russia where cases of drug use or their distribution have not been recorded.

"Narcotic drugs are substances of synthetic or natural origin, drugs included in the List of Narcotic Drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors subject to control in the Russian Federation, the state policy in the field of drug trafficking is defined by Federal Law No. 3-FZ of January 8, 1998 "On Narcotic Substances and Psychotropic Substances".

In the modern world, the problem of drug trafficking is one of the most urgent and dangerous. To counter this phenomenon, it is necessary to take a number of measures aimed at reducing drug demand, preventing the spread and suppressing illicit drug trafficking.

The growth of illicit drug trafficking in the Russian Federation is associated with several reasons, namely:

- inadequate legislative framework, which should regulate the activities to combat drug trafficking, this can also include almost ineffective control over the legal turnover of medicines that contain narcotic substances;

- Insufficient cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the control, supervisory, health care and public associations;

- social problems, national and political contradictions among citizens, which lead to loss of reference points in life and which have a negative impact on the human psyche, which can become a reason for drug use.

Moreover, according to experts' estimates, the number of drug users is much higher than the official figures and may exceed several million people. The prevalence of drug addiction and the intensity of drug treatment are sharply regional in nature. Furthermore, the highest rates are found in regions where plant-based drugs grow or transit territories and in port cities.

"In January - September 2021, 138.3 thousand crimes related to illegal drug trafficking were revealed, which is 4.3% less than during the same period last year. At the same time, police officers detected 133.9 thousand crimes (-3.7%). As compared to January-September 2020, the number of detected crimes committed for the purpose of selling narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues decreased by 6.8%. Also their specific weight in the number of crimes related to illicit drug trafficking decreased from 58.6% in January - September 2020 to 57.0%." [5]

In order to effectively counter the drug business and counter the plan to increase the demand for drugs, law enforcement officers whose functions include combating drug trafficking carry out operational and investigative activities:

- Inspection of premises, areas of terrain, and various vehicles;

- interception of individual telephone conversations, as well as tracking information from other communication channels;

- test purchases of prohibited substances;

- controlled delivery;

- surveillance of suspects;

- identification of suspects and detainees;

- postal surveillance involving a canine service;

- canvassing the public;

- infiltration of employees into criminal structures, recruitment;

- operative experiment.

The work of the police comes down to ensuring the inevitability of criminal liability, regardless of whether the detainee is a member of a criminal group or a consumer. The subject of trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances or their analogues is quite resonant and due to the fact that such activity is criminalized in our country, this activity is punished by article 228 of the Criminal Code "Illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, manufacture, processing of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues and illegal acquisition, storage, transportation of plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or their parts containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances".

At the same time, other problems related to the anti-drug legislation are being worked out. For example, the President of the Russian Federation adopted Decree No. 683 of December 31, 2015. "On the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation", in which illicit drug trafficking was recognized as a national level problem.

State anti-drug programs and strategies were also created (for example, the Strategy of State AntiDrug Policy of the Russian Federation for the period until 2030, which was approved by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 23, 2020). Expand the list of drugs, the circulation of which needs enhanced control (Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation #1140 dated 29.07.2020 "On Amendments to some acts of the Government of the Russian Federation in connection with the improvement of control over the circulation of narcotic drugs" extended the list of narcotic drugs, the circulation of which is prohibited in Russia, and the list of plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances). Establishment of joint working groups on investigation and prevention of drug trafficking on the territory of the CIS. Improve measures of control over drug addicts who are obliged to undergo rehabilitation [3,  p. 92].

This is a non-exhaustive list of initiatives by the Government of the Russian Federation. The main measures that need to be taken to counter drug trafficking:

Legislative measures: tougher penalties for drug trafficking, the introduction of criminal liability for drug distribution on the Internet, the creation of a system for monitoring and controlling drug trafficking.

Organizational measures: the creation of specialized units to combat drug trafficking, training law enforcement officers in methods of combating drug crime, and conducting preventive measures among young people.

Information measures: conducting information campaigns on drug addiction prevention, creating educational programs to combat drug addiction, developing and distributing information materials about the dangers of drugs.

Medical measures: development of a system of treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts, creation of conditions for early detection and treatment of drug addiction, carrying out preventive measures among the population.

Public measures: involving citizens in the fight against drug crime, creating public organizations and movements to combat drugs, holding actions and events to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Only an integrated approach to countering drug trafficking will reduce the level of drug addiction and drug crime in the country.

Countering drug trafficking is one of the most important tasks of modern society. This problem affects not only individuals, but also entire countries, and therefore requires an integrated approach.

In order to counter drug trafficking, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures aimed at forming a negative attitude towards drugs among young people and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These can be sports clubs, cultural events, information campaigns about the dangers of drugs and the consequences of their use.

It is also necessary to tighten legislation in the field of drug trafficking, increase sentences for drug-related crimes, and introduce new control and monitoring measures for drug trafficking.

Thereby the citizens of our country actively counteract drug addiction and drug-related crime. This includes reporting to law enforcement agencies about brothels or facts of drug sales, distribution of bookmarks. There are also preventive conversations with teenagers and young people in educational institutions. Certainly, all the listed activities and measures on counteraction to drug-related crime will be effective only if they are carried out stage-by-stage and in a comprehensive manner [4, p.244].

In conclusion, countering drug trafficking requires a comprehensive approach that includes preventive measures, stricter legislation, cooperation between law enforcement agencies and medical institutions, as well as the development of a rehabilitation system for drug addicts. Only through joint efforts will we be able to reduce the level of drug addiction and drug crime in our country.

References:

1. Davids, D.J. Narcoterrorism - A Unified Strategy to Fight a Growing Terrorist Menace / D.J. Davids. - Transnational Publishers, Ardsley (NY), 2002. p.4
2. Kobecz P.N. Pravovy`e voprosy` v sfere nemedicinskogo oborota narkotikov v Rossii. / P.N. Kobets Legal issues in the sphere of non-medical drug trafficking in Russia. Professional. M., 2005. № 6.
3. Kobecz P.N. Protivodejstvie prestupnosti v sfere nezakonnogo oborota narkoticheskix sredstv i psixotropny`x veshhestv: opy`t i problemy`. / P. N. Kobets Countering Crime in the Sphere of Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances: Experience and Problems.Monografiya M. 2014.
4. Chuchaev A.I. Strategiya gosudarstvennoj antinarkoticheskoj politiki: aktual`ny`e voprosy` realizacii/ A.I. Chuchaev Strategy of the State Anti-Drug Policy: Current Issues of Implementation // Lex Russica. 2016. № 6 (115). S. 244.
5. State of Crime in Russia for January - September 2021. Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Main Information and Analytical Center. – URL: https://xn-b1aew.xn-p1ai/reports/item/26421097/ (23.02.2025)