The information comes from a report published by Izvestia, the Russian government media outlet. It reveals that since the beginning of the invasion in Ukraine, the amount of cocaine entering the territory has increased significantly.
According to their investigation, between 2023 and 2024, Russian authorities seized approximately 5.2 tons of cocaine, with a total value of 350 billion rubles ($3.4 billion). In Russia, the government applies zero tolerance towards traffickers, who receive heavy sentences, even for small quantities of drugs. However, since the start of the war, they have reportedly increased the supply of drugs by developing different strategies to transport them. This influx of cocaine could have a link to the conflict in Ukraine, according to information reported by Newsweek.
An increase in cocaine in circulation in Russia
For its investigation, Izvestia analyzed statistics from law enforcement agencies, the Federal Customs Service of Russia and data from the darknet. According to the newspaper, the usual drug supply routes have changed due to the war in Ukraine. In February 2022, the port of Odessa in Ukraine was closed, leading to a diversion of traffic routes. Consequence: large quantities of drugs intended for other markets end up transiting via Russia.
Another reason, the increase in this flow would be due to a cyclical increase in production and the quantity of drugs in circulation in the world. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), global cocaine production increased by 24% in 2022.
-Traffickers who redouble their imagination
Ever more imaginative, drug traffickers are implementing sophisticated strategies to transport drugs across the country. In March 2023, in St. Petersburg, members of a group supplying Russia from Latin America were arrested. They were transporting 200 kilograms of drugs in a fruit truck. According to their investigation, bananas seem to be the preferred fruit because they are often transported in sealed containers which generally escape controls.
However, it is also common to see traffickers hiding cocaine in shipments of cocoa beans, coffee, fish and porcelain vases. Last December, Russia announced that it had arrested certain members of the notorious Cali Cartel who were trying to smuggle 570 kilograms of cocaine.
Although Russia is seeing an increase in cocaine on its territory, the country has not seen an increase in domestic cocaine users, and most of the drug appears to be destined for other markets. This is because cocaine is too expensive for many drug users in Russia, many of whom turn to synthetic alternatives like mephedrone.
