The interior ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), an intergovernmental security body, will meet on Thursday in the Kazakh capital Astana to discuss efforts to fight crime.
Russian Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev, who leads the Russian delegation, said the agenda includes the fight against drug trafficking, organized crime, and cybercrime.
"First of all, we will discuss the situation regarding the fight against drug trafficking. It is no secret that... Russia is in the way of the so-called 'northern route' of heroin transportation from Afghanistan's northern provinces via Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan," Nurgaliyev said.
"And our country is often used for drug transit to Europe," he said, urging all regional countries to unite efforts.
The SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran, India, Mongolia and Pakistan hold observer status.
ASTANA, April 28 (RIA Novosti)
