MOSCOW, February 27. /ITAR-TASS/. Director of Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service Viktor Ivanov has invited interior ministers of Finland and Estonia to take part in a meeting involving heads of anti-drug services ahead of the G8 summit due to be held in Sochi June 4-5.

Cooperation in combating drug trafficking is one of the priorities of Russia’s presidency in the G8. To this end, the anti-drug services officials are expected to meet in Moscow on May 15.

“I’m sure that the meeting will crown concrete operations and plans of action and contribute to the G8 experts’ work,” Ivanov said.

“Efforts aimed at reducing the drug threat have not been used in full. Special attention should be riveted to curbing contraband of synthetic drugs, psychotropic substances and crop-based drugs,” the Russian official said.

“I should stress that most drugs come from the European countries - the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Poland. Drugs arrive in Russia mostly from Finland and Estonia,” he said.

“Russia is a barrier, which protects united Europe from Afghanistan’s aggressive heroin. Several dozens of grams of heroin have been confiscated in Finland and Estonia while at least three tonnes of drugs have been taken away in Russia,” Ivanov said, adding that Russian drug policemen jointly with Estonian and Finnish counterparts had conducted a special operation to cut off hashish supply channels.