Upper Garabagh’s turning into drug-growing area confirmed

Baku, June 1, AssA-Irada

The uncontrolled Upper Garabagh territory has turned into an area
with widespread corruption and drug trafficking, which has drawn
attention from the international community. The utterances made by
a member of the 055 drug trafficking group Haji Barzain sentenced
to imprisonment by the New York court prove Azerbaijan’s previous
statements in this respect.

141 hectares of land is used to grow narcotics in Zangilan, 210
in Gubadly and 176 hectares in the Fuzuli districts of Azerbaijan
occupied by Armenia, according to Russian investigation sources and
US Department of Justice drug enforcement department.

Commenting on the issue, political analyst Rovshan Novruzoghlu told
local Lider TV channel that the investigation being carried out
by the US Department shows that drugs continue to be sown in the
mentioned territories.

The court materials show that drug trafficker Barzain operates
extensive drug plantations in Upper Garabagh and is involved in
transporting drugs to other countries, together with members of
Al-Qaeda terrorist cell.

23 people were detained on charges of drug trafficking in Upper
Garabagh in 2002, 34 in 2003 and 39 in 2004. Armenian individuals
charged with drug trafficking and believed to have close ties to
Upper Garabagh are currently on trial in Tehran, Iran.

The US State Department reports show Azerbaijan’s south as an area used
for the transit of narcotic substances. However, they also indicate
that Azerbaijani frontier guards are actively involved in fighting
drug trafficking in these territories.*