DRUG-RELATED CRIMES ON THE RISE IN RUSSIA, STEPASHIN.

MOSCOW, December 29 (Itar-Tass) - The situation with narcotics trafficking
and drug-related crimes continues aggravating in Russia, holds Colonel-
General Sergei Stepashin, the Russian Interior Minister. He stated this on
Tuesday, summing up the results of Vikhr-3 (whirlwind) large-scale
operation to combat crime that was concluded this week.

He said the total number of crimes involved in illegal drug-traficking
reached 170 thousand. The number of crimes by minors in this area rose two
percent.

Virtually all the indexes of operational and service activity of the
Russian Interior Ministry personnel were doubled or trebled during Vikhr-3
operation. Eighty-eight thousand crimes have been disclosed over a brief
period and 62 thousand criminals and 13 thousand persons wanted for hiding
from investigation and trial, including for drug-related crimes, have been
detained, Stepashin said.