During an operational event conducted by the Novosibirsk Region Interior Ministry officers, 4 foreign nationals were apprehended. Although the 19- and 20-year-old men entered Russia as labor migrants, according to investigative data, they operated as wholesale couriers for online drug marketplaces.
It was determined that the suspects, acting on instructions from anonymous curators, retrieved large batches of prohibited substances from hidden locations and transported them to a rented apartment. There, the substances were divided into small doses and delivered to retail sellers for placement in "dead drops." During the search, over 800 ready-made packages, electronic scales, and packaging materials were found. According to the expert report, the total weight of the seized heroin and methadone exceeds 1.5 kilograms.
During interrogation, the detainees admitted that they were recruited into this illegal activity through "easy money" offers posted on social media messengers. Currently, a criminal case has been initiated against these individuals under Part 5 of Article 228.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (attempted illegal sale of narcotic drugs in an especially large amount).
By court decision, the suspects have been remanded in custody for the duration of the investigation. Law enforcement agencies are warning migrants not to fall for suspicious job offers on the internet and to avoid getting involved in serious crimes.
