TOPICAL ISSUES IN THE INVESTIGATION OF NON-CONTACT DRUG TRAFFICKING

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the current situation with drug addiction in Russia, investigative practice of detection and investigation of crimes in the sphere of illegal drug trafficking and peculiarities of private methodology of investigating drug sales committed with the use of modern information technologies. The research uses a comprehensive approach to the study of socio-economic, legal and criminalistic aspects of the spread of drug addiction in Russia, necessary for the formation of effective measures to counter drug crime. The author, based on the results of generalization of investigative practice, reveals criminal schemes of drug distribution using modern information technologies and virtual payment systems and identifies the problems arising in connection with the detection and investigation of this type of crime. The identified problems indicate that the private methodology of investigation of drug distribution committed in the traditional way requires significant revision. In addition, there arise a number of legal problems related to the qualification of the actions of accomplices of a criminal group engaged in non-contact drug sales. In conclusion, the author proposes a set of measures aimed at improving the efficiency of detection and investigation of drug sales committed using telecommunication systems, as well as several amendments to the criminal law to increase the punishment for committing drug sales by remote means.