All news

Islamic State makes up to $1 billion on drug trafficking — Russian drug control service

Over the past five years the Balkan route has been split - the heroin traffic now also goes through the Iraqi territory
Drugs seized at the border of Iran and Afghanistan AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
Drugs seized at the border of Iran and Afghanistan
© AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

MOSCOW, 6 March. /TASS/. The Islamic State terrorist group makes up to $1 billion on drug traffic through its territory, head of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service (FSKN) Viktor Ivanov said on Friday.

"The area of poppy plantations is growing. This year, I think, we’ll hear news about record-high poppy harvest, therefore the high yield of opium and heroin. So this problem should be raised not only in Moscow, but also in the UN in general, because this is a threat not only to our country’s, but also European security. Over the past five years the Balkan route has been split - the heroin traffic now also goes through the Iraqi territory," he said.

"The transit of heroin from Afghanistan though the Islamic State-controlled territory is huge financial sponsorship. According to our estimates, IS makes up to $1 billion on Afghan heroin trafficked through its territory," he said.