Фото: ГТК
Belarusian customs officers have intercepted a large shipment of the psychotropic substance 4-BMC. A total of 154 kg of the substance was found in a Polish truck driven by a 44-year-old Belarusian citizen.
As reported by the State Customs Committee, the vehicle was transporting consolidated cargo. It crossed the border through the Kozlovichi border checkpoint and then headed to the Bruzgi border checkpoint to a transshipment and trailer change area.
“Here the vehicle was inspected using an inspection and screening complex. During a subsequent search, the psychotropic substance was extracted from hidden compartments concealed within the goods,” the State Customs Committee said.
After the discovery of the shipment, operational measures were carried out in Russia. Officers of the Federal Customs Service detained three people involved in the scheme. An additional 6 kg of hashish and 20 grams of cocaine were seized from one of them.
“Criminal cases have been opened by the Grodno Regional Customs Office and the Federal Customs Service of Russia for drug smuggling on an especially large scale, with sanctions under the relevant articles предусматривающие deprivation of liberty for up to 20 years,” the State Customs Committee said.
The committee also explained that 4-BMC belongs to so-called designer psychotropic substances. It has been present on the market since 2011 and has effects similar to amphetamine and MDMA.
“The 154 kg of 4-BMC would be enough for 700,000 doses, and the value of such a shipment on the black market is estimated at $10 million,” the State Customs Committee added.