Russia: Afghan drug trade major threat

MOSCOW, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Russia's defense minister says the country's biggest threats are from Central Asia, especially Afghanistan, which has become a major source of illegal drugs.

Sergei Ivanov recommended cooperation between the Collective Security Treaty Organization and NATO against the drug trade, Novosti reported. In addition to Russia, CSTO members include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Ivanov said Afghan drug lords may be raking in as much as $30 billion a year, with at least some of the money being used to finance terrorism.