COMMITTEE: United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime
COUNTRY: Russian Federation
TOPIC: Trafficking and Production of Counterfeit Drugs
DELEGATE NAME: Sahana Prakash
“Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.”
Anton Katlinsky, the health minister of Russia stated that 3.6% of the drugs in Russia are
counterfeit. The many existing drug policies in Russia do not address the problem of
counterfeiting. The knowledge of counterfeit drugs is not sufficient among commoners. Cheap
counterfeit pharmaceuticals are available to the general public, who benefit from this. Everything
from heart medicines to diabetic medicines is offered without prescriptions. They are unaware
that low-cost drugs are bogus drugs.
The Russian Federation has taken numerous steps toward the abolishment of fraudulent drugs.
The emergence of modern high-tech labs, drug labeling system, etc. The Russian government
conducted many raids on background medicine shops which resulted in 48 reported violations
and closed 8 business dealings.
The UNODC-Russia started an initiative for counter-narcotics training. Its aim is to provide
training in the subject of counter-narcotics in order to help fight the rising problem of drug
trafficking. This is one of the most successful initiatives carried out by the NATO-Russia
Council (NRC). The UNODC drug program for Russia from 2002-2005 was another successful
program of budget 4.3 million US $. It aimed to accomplish a number of objectives like
reduction of drug abuse and trafficking, improvement of drug policies and plans, and special
emphasis on the rapidly increasing HIV/AIDS epidemic. These projects had successful
outcomes.
The fight against drugs is a shared battle. We need to comprehend the crucial fact that this is not
a one-man fight. No matter how many policies and programs are put forward by the authorities,
this is a fight for commoners. Therefore the delegate of Russia would like to place special
emphasis on the general public. Policies on increasing awareness about counterfeit drugs and
open campaigns for the public to participate in should be implemented. A 24/7 available hotline
for the public to report pharmaceutical errors and emergencies can be launched and information
through videos on social media from authentic and trusted sources must circulate often. The
great Mahatma Gandhi once said, “To reach real peace in the world, we will have to begin with
the children.” Following his wise words, we need to raise awareness among adults as well as
children. Starting at the school level they must be made aware of the harmful effects of
counterfeit products. On the other hand, the production and trafficking of fraudulent drugs
should be prevented by frequent raids and surprise check-ups of small pharmacies.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.unodc.org/pdf/russian_federation_and_belarus_programme.pdf
https://www.unodc.org/rpanc/en/Sub-programme-1/unodc-russia-partnership-on-counter-
narcotics-training-for-central-asia--afghanistan-and-pakistan-phase-iv.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/05/business/worldbusiness/05fake.html
COMMITTEE: United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime
COUNTRY: Russian Federation
TOPIC: Crime Syndicate and Money Laundering
DELEGATE NAME: Sahana Prakash
Semion Mogilevich, the boss of bosses, the world’s most powerful mobster and the leader of Red
Mafia. Mogilevich created Bratva, also known as the Red Mafia of Russia. He has committed
crimes such as extortion, drug trafficking, murders, money laundering, etc. He was placed on the
FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List and was put in jail in 2008. He was bailed 6 months later.
The criminal activity that is most frequently seen to be producing illegal proceeds is theft of
public monies, crimes involving corruption and power abuse, financial sector fraud, and drug
trafficking. However, the extent of the informal, or "grey," economy in that region of the world
is also a factor in money laundering. In fact, it is believed that up to 21% of people in Russia's
labor force did not have a contract for their primary employment in 2016. In the city of Atlanta,
Russian organized crime has a substantial presence, and its members can be recognized by their
tattoos.
Russian organized crime groups provide a special challenge to law enforcement since they put
global public safety at risk with their international criminal operations. The Russian Organized
Crime Report provides specific policy ideas that can be used by both business and government to
combat Russian organized crime.
Since a recent draught of the anti-money-laundering law created by the Office of the President
has already drawn significant criticism, it is now more likely that a new document, to be
reviewed by Parliament, would be based on the one that was approved by the Parliament in 1999.
Many people in the Russian Federation are enthusiastic about the passing of the necessary laws
in response to the new steps towards strengthening the State's law enforcement functions and
control of the central Government.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/jr000247b.pdf
https://www.csis.org/programs/transnational-threats-project/past-projects/transnational-threats-
project-past-task-force-5
