To cut the amount of heavy drugs smuggled into Russia is the prime service target, he pointed out, with the heroin market burgeoning as low-price stuff gets in from Afghanistan. Things will surely go on this way for years, whatever Russia may be doing to cope with the disaster. Russian border guards deployed in Tajikistan, along the Afghan frontier, are putting an only big barrier to it. "The matter will be much worse as soon as they move out," warned Cherkesov.
The service bears grudges against the Justice Ministry penitentiary board as proceedings were recently launched on several dozen cases after prison wardens were caught red-handed smuggling drugs to inmates.
More than 18,000 pushers were in the dock last year. The drug police chief is indignant with court and jury leniency as 7,000 of the defendants got off with suspended sentences.
