NOVOSIBIRSK, November 21 (RIA Novosti) - Drug officers in the Altai Territory in southern Siberia have arrested 20 members of a drug dealing gang and seized eight kilograms (17 pounds) of heroin, a spokesman at the local police department said.
Officers also confiscated 500,000 rubles ($20,000), jewelry and six cars.
According to police the gang had been active for 20 years and was headed by a family formerly from Azerbaijan and their relatives. Initially they specialized in illegal alcohol sales, but later switched to drug dealing.
He said that the gang sold approximately 10 kg (22 pounds) of high-quality heroin per month.
