At the same time Giorgio Giacomelli, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, will pay an official visit to Moscow. Participants from more than 20 countries will plan an international response aimed at stemming the escalation of the drug threat within Russia and its effect on other countries. Russian drug-related crime, which is increasing by more than 20 per cent per year, and other criminal activities that have flourished since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, have become a major challenge for the international community. The sudden changes due to the opening of borders and the move to a market economies in countries of the former Soviet Union have far out-paced the ability of Governments to control the flow of goods and people.
Cities are rife with drug-related criminal gangs that are expanding and becoming more powerful.
Organized criminal groups now account for 25 per cent of crimes and this figure is increasing. The Conference will focus on efforts to assist the Russian Government in combating groups engaged in drug trafficking and those involved in a wider range of drug-related criminal activities. The expected Plan of Action will outline a series of specific measures and thier costs. Presentations and discussions will outline the current situation in Russia concerning drug crime, trafficking and abuse, and measures currently being taken to address the situation. These include developments in national drug control legislation, law enforcement efforts and capabilities, extent of illicit crops, measures already taken and those needed adequately to address money-laundering and to reduce drug abuse.