ORENBURG, October 15 (RIA Novosti) - Federal Security Service officers seized over 34 kg (75 lbs) of heroin during a special operation in Orenburg, in Russia's Urals, smuggled into Russia from Tajikistan, a FSB spokesman said on Wednesday.
The spokesman said the drugs were being smuggled into Russia by train from Tajikistan hidden in fruit. The traffickers were assisted by a train attendant who threw two bags containing the heroin out of the train. The bags were then hidden near the tracks by a Tajik national, who planned to pick them up later.
"This is the largest drug haul this year in the Orenburg Region," the spokesman said.
Both the Tajik national and the train attendant were detained, the spokesman added. A criminal investigation is underway.
Most of the heroin sold in Russia is smuggled into the country via Tajikistan, which shares a border with Afghanistan, the world's largest heroin producer.
