Drug police in Russia’s Far East joined with the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) to spot cannabis fields in the Primorye Territory, regional drugs-control chief Lt Gen Alexander Rolik told a Vladivostok press conference.[1] Roscosmos sent coordinates of cannabis fields to anti-narcotics officers, who destroyed the plants and returned confirmation data for the agency’s database; Rolik said contact began in late 2009.[1] Drug police destroyed 48 hectares of cannabis plants during 2009.[1] In September they seized four metric tons of marijuana in two forest caches and a truck, and discovered an illegal hash-oil plant in the woods.[1] Rolik said the discoveries pointed to a net of organised criminal groups trafficking cannabis-based drugs in Primorye cities and nearby regions.[1] He added that satellites had also helped other regions, including neighbouring Amur and the Urals, spot cannabis plants.[1]