Authorities in Yakutsk and South Sakhalinsk halted the distribution of illicit substances disguised within domestic appliances.
In a significant development, a case involving an unspecified online drug store and its operators has been sent to court. The case, handled by the North-Eastern Transport Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, has been approved by the transport prosecutor.
At the heart of the case is a 26-year-old suspect from the Chelyabinsk region, who acted as a "warehouse-stash" operator for the online drug store. The suspect, along with two other individuals aged 26 and 25 from Yakutsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk respectively, were employed by the same online drug store.
The suspects illegally transported narcotics from Chelyabinsk to Yakutsk and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, selling them through hidden stashes. To avoid detection, they concealed the narcotics in electric heaters and sent them to themselves via logistics companies. As a result, during the investigation, 87 stashes were discovered.
Approximately one kilogram of N-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) was seized in connection with this case. MDPV is a synthetic cathinone, a class of stimulant drugs that are chemically similar to amphetamines.
The case is charged under Part 4 and Part 5 of Article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to the production, storage, sale, or distribution of narcotics. The maximum penalty for the drug trafficking offense is 20 years in prison.
The operator of the online drug store run by the suspects in Siberia was a person identified as Vladislav P. The location of the online drug store is not specified in the provided information.
The suspects are currently awaiting the court's decision under house arrest. The exact details of the court proceedings have not been disclosed. However, this case underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat the illegal drug trade, particularly in the digital realm.
