At the end of October 2017 field investigators of management of own security GU MVD of Moscow region detained a group of policemen who threw the detainee drugs and extorted money from them for that not to initiate a criminal case. A month earlier about the situation with the toss said lady Julia Zhuravleva — according to her, at the entrance to the Park “Zaryadye” the police put her in my purse the unknown pill, and then demanded a bribe. The interior Ministry promised to bring the perpetrators to justice; the development of this story has not received.
Situation when ransomware from law enforcement agencies themselves become defendants in criminal cases, occur very rarely. The current system of combating drug-related crime makes people almost defenseless against possible tyranny of the police to prove the fact of falsification is extremely difficult, for example, due to the fact that the absence of fingerprints on a parcel with the drug court about what does not speak.
This system has a downside — as in drug cases no victims or claimants, and the practice of physical searches without witnesses, and witnesses fairly widespread, law enforcement officers can earn a good income on the drug users who do not want problems with the law. For obvious reasons, such relationship is not reflected in any official statistics and have not been studied in detail.
Open Russia is a study about practices of bribes to police for drug offences, held jointly with the head of Fund of a name of Andrey Rylkov (recognized in Russia as a foreign agent) Anya Sarang and the younger scientific employee of Institute of problems of law enforcement Alexey Knorre.
Where, what and how much
The study was conducted through a questionnaire published on the Internet. It filled those who were detained with drugs and extorted a bribe. Three weeks was received 588 responses; for analysis remained 571 (other forms are ruined, or they didn’t fit). 11 people interviewed agreed to the additional anonymous interviews.
Respondents answered questions about how the city and the location in which the arrest occurred, what substance they found and how much it weighed, and what amount of money had to give. Some count expected detailed answers — details of the detention, the behavior of the police, views about the price and stuff.
According to the results, most often, the detention of drug users and the repurchase occurred in quiet courtyards. The next most frequent place is either stopped or standing vehicle. In the parks off occurred less frequently — only 14% of cases.
The majority of arrests, which lead to extortion, happen in the evening: 75% of all respondents said that this occurred between 17 hours and middle of the night (5 hours). Least likely to get caught by the law enforcement officers in the early morning.
Almost half of the cases (48%) police first proposed to solve the problem without unnecessary formalities.
More than half (57%) of all cases that were written by the respondents, associated with a payoff for the storage of cannabinoids — marijuana and hashish. In third place are amphetamines (“speed”), and mephedrone, MDMA and cocaine are a matter of interest. Heroin is very rare in the responses and listed only seven questionnaires (1.5 percent). The same can be said about “spice”.
Of the 567 answers 100 cases, the respondents had multiple types of drugs. For convenience and clarity, the results of these answers were discarded.
The average price tag is different for different types of drugs. Cheaper to pay off with marijuana or hashish, expensive — cocaine. The majority of respondents were paid off by the police, having 1-2 grams of drugs.
The price is also affected by the city, which is a mercy. The results imply, than the larger city, the more the amount of bribes. Due to the fact that most of our respondents were from Moscow and St. Petersburg, other answers had to be in the category of “other cities”.
Personal experience: detention
In the questionnaire study were open-ended questions, the answers to which respondents could briefly describe the history of the incident of the repurchase, and share other observations or thoughts on the subject. For obvious reasons, such answers could not be included in the graphics.
For example, dozens of people detained on the street, said that they were caught on the “bookmarks” in places where distributors are hiding drugs. In such cases, the police demanded a bribe for the very intention to raise it:
Took with nothing. Came, without warning, bound in handcuffs, put a finger to the iPhone, unlocked it — there card. All went together to the mark, five police were looking for the treasure themselves. (Moscow)
***
Came to pick up the treasure. The police came when she stood with the phone. Went with the cops dug it up, gave the plate of hash and 30 thousand rubles. (Moscow)
***
Often the cops catch Gladman which to stuff bookmarks in the city, and then crack him in relation to the location of ready-made treasures. Then the patrol starts to monitor these places and to catch anyone who takes the treasure. (Saint Petersburg)
***
Went to pick up the treasure with 5 grams of cocaine. The devils got out of the bushes and searched. First, the money did not want to take, explained that even if the reach of the investigator, it will pay off, and they do not get it. Given the market price — 90 thousand. Then one of the garbage I had texted, saying that I liked him. Said that thanks to his kindness I am free. Blocked. (Moscow)
***
A friend came for treasure. Did not take — up PPP, the phone found the address. He had to give five thousand roubles and go home. The next day, in the hope that there is no longer anyone went again; again all ended the same — PPP, phone address, again, bribe. Only the three thousand, because the money was no more. (Chelyabinsk)
Victims of extortion, detained in automobiles, spoke about the practice of traffic police to demand a bribe for refusal to undergo medical examination, as the presence in the analysis of traces of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the active ingredient in marijuana, is excreted from the body up to three weeks. — Open Russia) may be grounds for withdrawal of driving license:
One of my friend was detained at the car. Looked in the passport, there was a Schengen visa and the stamp of the airport of Amsterdam (in the Netherlands sell marijuana. — Open Russia). Staff threatened by tests, a registration and problems at work in the Bank. He had to pay 300 thousand rubles, as he was driving a BMW fresh, and the staff was trading extremely reluctant. (Moscow)
During the interview, another Respondent from Moscow said that any protests about the fact that everyone to examine not only aggravate the situation and increase the end price tag. “Next comes the process of trading, during which you complain of small salary, credit, show extracts of texts from salary cards and are trying to bring down the price. The staff defiantly broken, the spoken phrase “what me your penny.” “no, for the same amount will not work”. The little that he gave in such a situation — 20 thousand rubles. The largest amount — 30 thousand, it was in 2015,” he said.
Personal experience: threats
Extorting bribes by the police, as a rule, promised to the victims of the problems at school or work, and threatened to “fill up” drugs to weight, sufficient for a criminal case:
Situation occurred with a friend. Handcuffed, put in a Bobby (policeman UAZ. — Open Russia). Stoned senior COP with pupils at five rubles, said that a little weight, but “it’s nothing, you’re outta my will fill up, Oh***tion”. (Moscow)
***
Several times repeated the phrase — if you put your 0.5 grams of marijuana will turn into 50 grams. The case was not instituted because in the end, we agreed with the captain of the crew PPS. (Moscow)
In a few cases, employees really threw substances:
One day my friend, going out of doors Khoroshevsky district court, was stopped by two young men in uniform. They asked him to show the documents and the contents of the backpack. After the screening, one of the policemen took him aside for a private tete-a-tete. When I came back, the policemen continued to check, based on what didn’t get through even small compartments of the backpack. One of them was two bags of white powder.
Friend, naturally, was in total disbelief and tried to convey to them that this is not it. To accuse the police that they had been planted, of course, he was afraid. Subsequently politsionery engaged in a dialogue with him in an entirely different tone, threatened to call witnesses and refer the case to the court, and all in this spirit. In the end, the staff simply called the amount of 40 thousand rubles, which had to pay. (Moscow)
A few people said that after threats of detention failed to collect the required amount; the history has indeed ended in criminal cases.
Friend took the metro. Had about a gram of amphetamine (considered large size, the punishment for possession — three to 10 years of imprisonment. — Open Russia). During the day asked a million rubles and will not be issued. Three hours before clearance to use up to 500 thousand rubles. Such money was not, in the end was closed, although he all the characteristics of a colony-settlement was drawn. Now very sad in IR. (Moscow)
***
He hinted at a bribe. We were outraged, as in the station, the police forced my son to put drugs in his pocket. In the end, opened a case and for a year trying to submit it to the court. (Krasnodar)
Personal experience: other factors that affect the size of the repurchase
In addition to the direct relationship between the amount and type of drug and the total amount of respondents referred to other factors that may affect the payoff. Among them, for example, mentioned the hierarchy of the police:
The lower employees in the hierarchy, the less take. To run on two PPS-nicks are much cheaper than the major’s three sergeants. (Moscow)
***
At PPP rates are lower at the Opera, of course, much higher, in some more serious instances, the costs increase significantly. (Moscow)
One of the major factors called the solvency of the victims:
Usually look at the creditworthiness. I was told that if I was on a more expensive car, the price tag would be significantly higher. (Moscow)
***
It all depends on many factors — ranging from clothes, finishing activities, relatives and other family members. (Moscow)
***
Followed friends, find out who the parents are working to determine how much money to ask for. (Moscow)
According to respondents, the amount is also affected by the stage of prosecution. The most favorable option is to pay on the spot immediately after the arrest. The amounts increase substantially after they are brought to the police station, the initiation of the case and transfer it to the court:
Gave the PPS-100 thousand nicknames. If it came to the investigator, the amount would be increased from 300 to 500 thousand, in court, from million. (Murmansk)
***
If you stop on the street PPS not a tip, find substance in use or in the course of illegal search is from 15 to 50 thousand the most. If delivered in office, sometimes 100 — 150 thousand, and by 2013 had increased to 300 thousand with no upper ceiling. If detained at the sale, taking the development — from 600 thousand to half a million. (Moscow)
***
During detention could not be bought off, although attempts were made. After the bribe to the judge in three million, I was sentenced to three years of imprisonment under article 228.1 of the criminal code, paragraph 3 (Manufacturing or sale of drugs by a group of persons, or a significant amount; provides punishment from eight till 15 years of imprisonment. — Open Russia) the application of article 64 of the criminal code (Appointment of softer punishment. — Open Russia). (Moscow)
The amount is also affected by qualification of actions charged with distribution or manufacture of drugs are much more expensive.
Detained in the apartment with 300 grams of amphetamines. Paid 300 thousand, reclassified all with sales and production to storage, although there was a lab. Was given five years. (Moscow)
***
Was a laboratory. Came to the apartment, found several kilos of amphetamines. Manufacture and sale of especially large, gave about a million to the investigator to the time knocked off. (Elektrostal)
Details of the deal: trade, farmed things
Respondents said that most often the final size of the bribe agreement is reached in the course of trade:
Asked 100 thousand, from friends more than 20 thousand just was not garbage agreed. (Yekaterinburg)
***
Agreed 100 thousand, each brought only 35 thousand. The cops didn’t turn back and agreed. (Moscow)
***
Took half tablet of MDMA. Put in Bobby and said, “Pay us 100 Grand, and we’re letting you go”. I replied that there are only 500 rubles. Well, they conferred a while and replied, saying, come 500 and get out. (Moscow)
The police prefer to take bribes in cash; during the interview only one Respondent from St. Petersburg said that the money transferred to the card PPS-Nika via Sberbank Online. In order to raise the necessary funds, staff often provide a company car to travel to the ATMs.
If the transaction ends well, the police can provide additional services — for example, to return the drugs or to give a friend advice:
The police stopped, searched, found. Agreed on the amount, drove up to the house and back. All substances returned, paternal was advised not to catch the other patrols. (Nizhny Novgorod)
***
[After the repurchase] happened right in the pods. (Moscow)
***
Unlocked from bribes five seconds, then immediately agreed. At the end gave life advice — not to go with the weight, especially in the center. Drove to subway to get me other cops took, and gave back the amphetamine, which I was very surprised. (Moscow)
In some situations, respondents had to pay not money, but personal belongings or drugs:
Knew some guys who bought off the things from the house, as there was no money (found in 10 grams of hashish). Made iPhones, iPads, TV, even some expensive stuff. (Moscow)
***
There was a case when a mate bought some gold rings and other stuff. In the end, bribed all of that stuff in pre-packaged bags of herbs, that is marketing. (Moscow)
***
PPS-Niki caught on the street three people were asked to share their ounce of marijuana (~1000) and released. (Perm)
As an exception, one Respondent cited an incident when his friend was able to negotiate without unwanted effects, without paying at all:
A ginger, a fat, bearded fellow stopped outside the club, picked up a bag and said it was him. Comrade was notably stoned, and this somehow happened. He went to the medical examination and was able to convince the guard (!) to take the test for him and the next day came. Money he was not at all. (Moscow)
What to do?
Many respondents believe that corruption and abuses will not stop until the police will have virtually unlimited powers. Accordingly, in order to change the situation, the regulation of the trafficking of prohibited substances is to reassign the healthcare system with the highest threshold of intervention of law enforcement authorities.
In addition, to get rid of extortion and reduce the number of people convicted for drugs, would the decriminalization of the use and storage of drugs without sales objective (excluding social marketing) and the complete exclusion from administrative and criminal code articles punishing for these actions.
