Russia and the United States have uncovered a cocaine trade scheme involving a high-profile Russian impresario eager to set up business in Moscow's expensive night clubs, Russia's top drugs control officer said Monday.
Russians sprang into action after U.S. officials tipped them off about a 30-year-old Moscow man looking to buy cocaine wholesale in the United States, Viktor Ivanov, head of the Russian anti-narcotics agency, told reporters.
The announcement comes less than a week after a Russian pilot was arrested in Liberia on suspicion of smuggling South American cocaine into the U.S. and extradited to New York, drawing Moscow's condemnation for the arrest.
Russian officials arrested the man and his three accomplices Thursday when they allegedly received a 10 kilogram cocaine shipment in St. Petersburg.
Ivanov refused to identify the buyer, citing the ongoing investigation, but said the man organized concerts of Russian and foreign music stars and was looking to use his network of contacts to set up a drugs trade business catering for high-profile Moscow clients.
The impresario worked with three accomplices, including a former police officer and his wife.
The man allegedly planned to import 100 kilogram (220 pound) shipments of cocaine through St. Petersburg on a regular basis and sell the drugs in Moscow's expensive night clubs that he and his business contacts frequented.
Russians sprang into action after U.S. officials tipped them off about a 30-year-old Moscow man looking to buy cocaine wholesale in the United States, Viktor Ivanov, head of the Russian anti-narcotics agency, told reporters.
The announcement comes less than a week after a Russian pilot was arrested in Liberia on suspicion of smuggling South American cocaine into the U.S. and extradited to New York, drawing Moscow's condemnation for the arrest.
Russian officials arrested the man and his three accomplices Thursday when they allegedly received a 10 kilogram cocaine shipment in St. Petersburg.
Ivanov refused to identify the buyer, citing the ongoing investigation, but said the man organized concerts of Russian and foreign music stars and was looking to use his network of contacts to set up a drugs trade business catering for high-profile Moscow clients.
The impresario worked with three accomplices, including a former police officer and his wife.
The man allegedly planned to import 100 kilogram (220 pound) shipments of cocaine through St. Petersburg on a regular basis and sell the drugs in Moscow's expensive night clubs that he and his business contacts frequented.
