Poland's drug exports to Russia rise 29%

Poland's drug exports amount to 20% of all the country's exports to Russia, a proportion that is continually increasing, compensating for the Russian embargo on Polish meat products. Last year, Polish drug exports to Russia reached $677.0 million and grew 29%. The most successful sector is the over-the-counter drug business. The Russian drug market is steadily rising, reaching an estimated $10.8-$10.9 billion last year.

In other news, the black market of illegal drugs in Poland is booming. In 2006, police and pharmaceutical inspectors detected 328 instances of illegal or unlicensed drugs. Many of these products were seized at shops, bazaars, private natural medicine practices and other outlets. They are also sold via the Internet, but state control authorities claim to be powerless to inspect on-line distribution channels. Most of these illegal drugs are analgesics, sedatives, anticoagulants, erectile dysfunction and slimming drugs.