On October 18, the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (NTD) detained a 38-year-old citizen of Latvia in the village of Uulu, Pärnu County, who was transporting nearly one and a half kilograms of amphetamine across the border by car.
According to Vitaly Zayarin, head of the drug enforcement service of the NTD investigative department, the citizen of Latvia was stopped after crossing the border based on previously received information. "The man's explanations regarding the circumstances of his arrival in Estonia raised suspicions, so the car was directed for additional customs inspection.
During the inspection, we discovered a package with a powdery substance of beige color under the front seat, and the express test showed a positive result for amphetamine. After that, NTD officers detained the man on suspicion of committing a crime," Zayarin said. At the request of the prosecutor's office, the Pärnu County Court placed the suspect in custody for two months.
According to Zayarin, there has been an increase in the smuggling of synthetic drugs in recent years, primarily due to the low price per dose, the lack of geographical attachment of the substance, and the potential illegal profit.
"Synthetic substances are the most accessible for consumers in terms of price, but at the same time, they quickly lead to addiction and, due to accompanying social and medical problems, increase the burden on the healthcare and social security systems. Every successful detention is an important step in curbing the spread of these substances, which helps protect society from their negative consequences," Zayarin said.
The production manager prosecutor of the Western District Prosecutor's Office, Liizi Kisler, noted that, according to studies by the Health Development Institute, amphetamine is one of the most commonly used drugs.
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