MOSCOW, July 9 (RAPSI) – Corruption charges have been brought against fifteen police officers in Russia’s Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, the Investigative Committee’s spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko has told journalists.

Moreover, they are accused of creation a criminal gang and participation in it with the use of job position.

According to investigators, from 2017 to 2018, the republican Interior Ministry’s officials received bribes totaling to 42 million rubles (nearly $700,000) for unrestricted illegal transportation of alcohol-containing products through Kabardino-Balkaria. The organized criminal group was allegedly led by a deputy chief of the republican Interior Ministry’s road police directorate.

Fourteen defendants were detained, another one was put on the international wanted list, the statement reads.