MOSCOW, February 29 - RAPSI. Interpol's National Central Bureau in Russia has extradited Russian Knostantin Matviyenko from Monaco to Moscow on Wednesday. Matviyenko has been charged with drugs production and distribution.
Investigators maintain that Matviyenko illegally purchased narcotic substances containing heroine from unidentified individuals for resale in 2006. He was detained by police, but managed to escape from justice and was place on the international wanted list in July 2007.
French law enforcement agencies detained Matviyenko in November 2008 for violating residency rules and using a forged ID.
"However, the French authorities refused to arrest Matviyenko because French law does not carry criminal liability for such misdeeds, as the weight of the drugs did not exceed 1.61 grams," Interpol's National Central Bureau said. Matviyenko successfully evaded the police until last August when he was detained by Monaco police upon the request of Interpol's National Central Bureau at the Russian Interior Ministry.
Interpol has so far assisted Russia to extradite six individuals charged with crimes this year.