09.10 Russia Hints at Drug Charges Against Greenpeace Activists
MOSCOW, October 9 (RIA Novosti) Russian investigators said Wednesday that drugs have been found on board a Greenpeace ship seized last month, raising the threat of new charges against a group of activists and journalists awaiting trial on suspicion of piracy.
Investigative Committee chief Vladimir Markin said in a statement that substances found on the Arctic Sunrise icebreaker were presumed to be poppy straw and morphine.
He said the charge already pressed against all [the detainees] will presumably be modified.
Russian authorities detained the group of 30 environmentalists and journalists last month after activists from the Greenpeace ship staged a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic, with some of them attempting to scale a Russian oil platform.
All the detainees, comprising nationals of 18 countries, have been charged with piracy.
Markin also said that a number of defendants in the case will be charged with committing other grave crimes.
He said investigators were trying to determine which of the detainees had intentionally rammed border guards boats an act that could constitute an assault on the life and health of officials.
Under Russian law, the punishment for this crime could range from 12 years to life in prison.
Updated with modified lead and details from Markin statement.
