During the first six months of this year, Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies successfully neutralized 288 criminal groups as part of ongoing efforts to combat organized crime. Among these, 104 groups were specifically identified as being involved in serious and particularly grave crimes.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, this data was presented during a board meeting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) dedicated to reviewing the results of the first half of the year.
It was noted that during the same period, 70 individuals were held criminally liable for the illegal possession and carrying of firearms. Law enforcement operations also resulted in the seizure of 3,088 firearms, 337 grenades, and over 99,000 rounds of ammunition.
Furthermore, the Ministry reported a significant increase in anti-narcotics operations. Compared to the same period last year, authorities removed an additional 1.36 tons of narcotics from illegal circulation, bringing the total to 4.318 tons. Additionally, over 254 tons of illegally cultivated or wild-growing cannabis and poppy plants were discovered and destroyed. In connection with these drug-related offenses, 41 criminal groups were neutralized, and 2,652 individuals were brought to criminal responsibility.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan regularly conducts such comprehensive operational reviews to assess the effectiveness of its crime-prevention strategies. These efforts are part of the state's broader commitment to maintaining public order, ensuring national security, and curbing the influence of organized crime syndicates within the country.
