Synthetic drugs: Russia, China step up the fight

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. The fight against new synthetic drug types appearing on the streets moves up a gear with Russia and China agreeing to share knowledge about the menace, Russia's top enforcement official said on Monday. Russia placed around 700 new drugs on its list of prohibited substances last year, chief of federal control service FSKN Viktor Ivanov said. But "This work is a little slower in China," he said. "They are interested in co-operating with us on the issue." New law banning sale and use of new psychoactive substances such as synthetic marijuana, popularly known by the street name "Spice", should help combat illicit trafficking, regulators say. Controls adopted by Russia’s State Duma lower house of parliament on January 23 and approved by the Federation Council upper house on January 28 determine criminal liability for trafficking potentially dangerous psychoactive substances alongside administrative liability for their use and involving minors in their consumption. Use of such substances is allowed only for scientific and learning purposes, activities of certain federal agencies and investigations. Law was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 4 and is expected to come into force in Russia by the end of this week. Read more