MOSCOW, June 6 - RAPSI. President Vladimir Putin has signed amendments to the Criminal Code toughening liability for organizing drug dens, the Kremlin website reports on Wednesday.

"The newly adopted federal law stipulates criminal liability for abetting the use of narcotics or psychotropic substances, as well as for organizing and running drug dens," says the report.

In addition, criminal cases opened over these offences will be tried by a panel of three judges from the republican supreme courts, and the territorial, regional and federal city courts.

The amendments will come into force on January 1, 2013.