News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 1998

DEA AND RUSSIAN MINISTRY OF INTERIOR SIGN HISTORIC MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON COOPERATION IN COMBATING ILLEGAL DRUG TRAFFICKING

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Thomas A. Constantine and Ministry of the Interior (MVD) First Deputy Minister Colonel-General Vladimir Kolesnikov signed a historic Memorandum of Understanding providing the legal basis for cooperation in combating illegal activities in drugs and psychotropic substances at DEA Headquarters, Thursday, July 30, 1998.

The agreement between Russia’s primary law enforcement agency and the DEA signals increasing cooperation and information sharing between the two premier drug law enforcement agencies in Russia and the United States.

According to Constantine, "Since the opening of our first country office in Moscow in November 1996 DEA has seen the benefits of working with the Russian police on drug crimes. Today, coupled with this, the first Memorandum between DEA and the new Russian MVD, we can usher in a new era of cooperation at a time when organized drug Mafias are increasingly challenging our societies."

"DEA and the MVD will bring the tenacity and dedication of professional law enforcement officers to fighting drug abuse and drug related crime. Combining our intelligence and resources will give us an unprecedented advantage in fighting drug crimes in both our countries."

Colonel-General Kolesnikov oversees Russia’s 100,000 police investigators, as well as the 4,000 investigators assigned to the MVD Drug Control Department. DEA’s Moscow office is currently headed by Country Attache Gary Simone who is accompanying Kolesnikov on his visit to the U.S. The Colonel-General’s schedule also includes meetings with FBI Director Louis Freeh, Office of National Drug Control Policy Director General Barry McCaffrey and Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Washington Field Division Peter Gruden.

Any application to grow marijuana must include detailed documentation regarding these requirements. For more information please contact James J. McGivney, Chief, DEA Public Affairs, at (202) 307-7977.