MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) - Drug abuse kills up to 30,000 people in Russia annually, the head of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service said Thursday.

"According to official data, about 10,000 people die annually from taking drugs in the Russian Federation. But the real figure is bigger, and, according to expert assessments, is up to 30,000 people," Viktor Ivanov said.

Ivanov said that in the first nine months of 2008 Russian law enforcement agencies and secret services seized over 29 metric tons of drugs and psychotropic substances and stopped 198,000 drug-related crimes.

"To counter the drugs trade, it is necessary to reinforce control over cargo movement across the state border," he said, adding that amendments could be made to normative acts and information exchanges with other states improved.

Ivanov proposed establishing special courts for drug addicts and allowing them to choose "alternative treatment" instead of a prison term.

"It probably makes sense to establish and use special courts for drug addicts, so called drug courts, especially regarding those who break the law in order to get their next drug fix," he told the drug control service's public council.

Ivanov said alternative treatment was widespread abroad, and called on the Russian government to take more effective action in fighting the drug threat.