Afghan drug traffic benefits terrorists in the volatile North Caucasus, Russia's drug control chief said on Wednesday ahead of an anti-drug forum in Moscow.
"It is Afghan drug traffic that fuels terrorists in the North Caucasus; we need to work together to fight it," Viktor Ivanov said.
He added that Afghan drug trafficking is a global problem as it "feeds transnational crime and terrorism all over the world."
Nearly 200 experts, politicians and drug-control specialists from 40 countries are attending the international Afghan Drug Production: a Challenge to the International Community forum in Moscow from June 9-10.
The participants will discuss ways of preventing the Afghan drug trade, which has caused a sharp rise in heroin consumption, especially in Russia.
According to the Federal Drug Control Service, Afghan opium annually kills around 100,000 people around the world, including about 30,000 Russians.
MOSCOW, June 9 (RIA Novosti)
