The person accused of being the leading smuggler of cocaine from Argentina to Moscow, Vladimir Kalmykov is a member of the “United Russia” party and a former submariner, it was said in Moscow City Court on Monday, by his lawyer Andrei Shilayev.
“My client is a member of the United Russia party, and he served on a submarine,” said the lawyer, noting that Kalmykov’s submarine was even awarded for extinguishing a dangerous fire on board.
Under these circumstances, the defense counsel argued for the need to transfer the client from a detention facility to house arrest.
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During a large-scale joint operation of the special services of Russia and Argentina, it was possible to prevent the supply of 389 kilograms of cocaine to Moscow. Several people were detained in Argentina, including a local police officer and a native of Russia.
Suitcases of drugs were found on the territory of the Russian embassy in Argentina, and Russian diplomats themselves reported the finding of the Argentine police. The FSB then contacted the Argentinian authorities, and asked to collaborate on finding all those involved in the case. The cocaine was replaced with flour, and sent to the original addressees in Moscow. Former Russian embassy security guards in Argentina, came to collect the goods in Moscow, thereby implicating the Russian Foreign Ministry in the saga.
Vladimir Kalmykov, Ishtimir Khudzhamov and Ali Abyanov were arrested, while the search for others continues. The alleged organizer of the smuggling, Andrei Kovalchuk, was arrested in Germany, the authorities will decide whether to extradite him to Russia.