Mineralovodskaya Customs shut down shipments of psychotropic and potent medicines from India in international mail parcels, seizing more than a thousand capsules and 240 tablets valued at over RUB 1 million on the black market. Source: FCS Russia.
A 30-year-old resident of Nevinnomyssk ran the scheme: he ordered the drugs abroad and sold them through online shops across Russia. To conceal the trail he bought other people’s post-office accounts and electronic bank accounts via foreign messengers and digital-asset exchange platforms, while straw recipients collected the parcels.
Officers detained him red-handed when he collected a shipment at a city post office. A search of his home yielded a further 19 g of potent substances and 4 g of psychotropic substances, a laptop, several phones and blank prescription forms.
Laboratory tests found that the capsules and tablets contained the potent substances pregabalin and tapentadol, as well as the psychotropic substance tramadol; the total mass exceeded 400 g.
Four criminal cases were opened under Article 226.1(1.1) of the Russian Criminal Code (unlawful movement of potent substances). The offence carries up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to RUB 1 million.
The operation was conducted jointly with the Stavropol Territory department of the FSB of Russia in Nevinnomyssk, Unit 1 of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the North Caucasus Federal District, and with the involvement of Central Postal Customs.
Pregabalin and tapentadol are listed as controlled potent substances in Russia; tramadol is on the list of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors. Moving such medicines across the EAEU customs border is allowed only with a medical prescription and proper declaration.
