MOSCOW, December 21 (RAPSI) – The Moscow Regional Court has sentenced head of a drug smuggling gang for life for the first time in the history of Russia, the court’s press-service told RAPSI on Thursday.

According to the court’s representative, Sherali Tabarov has been found guilty of illegal drug trade and organization of a criminal group. Russian legislation reads that the latter crime may be punished with a life sentence.

The Prosecutor General’s Office believe that Tabarov, along with 15 other persons, transferred nearly 700 kilograms of heroin to Russia in a span of 3 years. The gang leader was captured in 2014 but it took a year to apprehend other members of the criminal group.

Other members of the gang were sentenced to prison terms varying from 6 to 25 years.