22 August, Vitebsk /Olga Bogacheva - BELTA/. The KGB Directorate for the Vitebsk Region has disrupted a transit channel for the supply of narcotic drugs through Belarus to the European Union countries, the press group of the KGB Directorate for the Vitebsk Region informed a BELTA correspondent. In early July, the Directorate's officers received information about an impending drug smuggling operation through Vitebsk for its further distribution in EU countries. As a result of operational-search activities, they managed to identify the recipient of the cargo and the place of drug transfer. At the moment of the transaction, two 23-year-old residents of Vitebsk were detained, from whom 300 g of hashish were seized. Another approximately 800 g of drugs were discovered at the detainees' place of residence. The investigation has established the role of each of them in organizing the transit channel. Thus, one of the men, who was not burdened by official employment, delivered drugs to Vitebsk, and the second, an employee of a trading company, transported them to the European Union countries. A criminal case has been initiated against the detainees by the KGB Directorate for the Vitebsk Region for illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs under Part 3 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code. The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 13 years. It is noteworthy that the perpetrators were confident that their actions – the transit of drugs without sale on the territory of their native country – were not criminally punishable in Belarus, the KGB Directorate noted. -0-

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