Russia’s plan to create gambling city could lead to illegal gambling
Russia’s plan to build a city dedicated to gambling is hitting a snag due to the global financial crisis, leading some to worry that a black market in illegal gambling could emerge.
From USA Today:
Russia’s grandiose scheme to build a Las Vegas from scratch in 18 months is turning into a sour bet because of the [...]
Nuclear weapons safe in our country: Russia
The Foreign Ministry of Russia strongly stated that its nuclear weapons were safe from being trafficked.
From the AP (via the Washington Post):
Russia insisted Friday its nuclear arsenal is secure, angrily rejecting U.S. allegations that tens of thousands of aging Soviet weapons may not be fully accounted for.
The Foreign Ministry described U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ [...]
Vodka smuggling pipeline from Russia to Estonia
11 people in Estonia have been charged with smuggling vodka through a two kilometer underwater pipeline to avoid paying taxes.
From AFP (via Google News):
The operation was profitable as the price of vodka in Russia is nearly one third cheaper than in Estonia, a member of the European Union since May 2004.
The illegal pipeline was discovered [...]
Black Market Haven center of Georgia-Russia conflict
South Ossetia, the semi-independent region at the center fo the Georgia-Russia conflict, is well-known to be a black market haven where illegal goods are traded.
In an article back in April 2008 for The Atlantic, Lawrence Scott Sheets wrote about nuclear smugglers in the region. He mentioned South Ossetia as an area where smugglers of all [...]
$15 billion annually from drug trafficking in Russia
According to the United States Department of State, “The annual revenue from illicit drug trafficking in Russia was estimated to be $15 billion”.
Source: 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, “Europe and Central Asia: Russia,” United States Department of State (accessed: March 2, 2007).
Counterfeit Goods Market in Russia
According to Russian officials, the counterfeit and pirated goods market in Russia is worth up to $6 billion.
Source: Russian News and Information Agency, “Russian fake products markets worth up to $6 billion-minister,” RIA Novosti, January 31, 2006.
Methadone not wanted in Russia
Methadone, a common treatment for heroin, is all but banned in Russia as a treatment option.
From the New York Times:
The conference seemed innocuous enough: a Moscow hotel, slide shows and several dozen doctors and specialists gathered to discuss how to treat heroin addiction. But then members of a Kremlin youth group called the Young Guard [...]
Corrupt Russian Officials steal $120 Billion
Reuters reports on the rampant corruption in Russia.
From Reuters (via MSNBC):
Corrupt officials are raking off a sum equivalent to one third of Russia’s annual budget, or $120 billion, a senior prosecutor was quoted as saying Friday.
President Dmitry Medvedev has pledged to crack down on corruption, which he acknowledges is rampant. Economists say the problem threatens [...]
Piracy in Russia still high
Although Russian Authorities have lowered piracy rates in 2007, the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods are still a problem.
From the Moscow Times:
Fewer Russians now buy pirated computer software and cheap bootleg alcohol, but pirated goods on sale in the country still make several billions of dollars per year for counterfeiters, the Higher School of [...]
Number of drug addicts in Russia has increased by 9 times over last decade
Source: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, “Illicit Drug Trends in the Russian Federation,” April 2008.
