MOSCOW, August 20 - RAPSI. A police officer with almost one kilogram of cocaine was detained in central Moscow on Saturday, the investigative Committee reports.

The detainee is police sergeant Igor Proskudin whose responsibilities include dealing with juveniles.

Proskudin was in plain clothes and not on duty at the time of the arrest. The police searched him and confiscated a kilogram of cocaine.

The committee has launched a criminal case against Proskudin for intent to deal a large amount of narcotic substance which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The Interior Ministry reports that the suspect had been discharged while his case is being investigated. The investigation is expected to implicate Proskudins supervisors.