As the consequence of strategic development course and comprehensive reforms successfully pursued in the Republic of Azerbaijan, public order and stability supporting the dynamic socio-economic progress in the country was reliably protected during 2018, the leading position was preserved in CIS and European space for the results of combating crime, the number of crimes per each 100 thousand population remain stable and was 264 facts. Control over operational condition in the Republic was ensured in whole by the measures jointly taken together with other law enforcement authorities in the field of protection of the legal interests of the citizens and the state against criminal attempts.
During the reporting period, 26381 crimes were recorded on the subjects of criminal-investigation and investigation activities (268 facts or 1  % more in comparison with 2017). 92,4  % or 24372 of them were unlawful actions the primary investigation of  which is conducted by the authorities of internal affairs and prosecution. 89.7  % of them was the crimes not entailing great public threat (7403) or less grave crimes (14456), only 10,3 % of them (2513) was grave and especially grave crimes.
4794 of the recorded crimes (108 or 2.3  % more in comparison with 2017) were the crimes against the personality, 11979 of them (-845; -6.6 %) were crimes committed in the field of economy, 11712 of them (-982; -7,7 %) were the crimes against the property, 6710 of them (+ 594; + 9,7 %) were the crimes against public security and public order, 884 of them (+ 212; + 31.5 %) were the crimes against the state power.
The crimes recorded by the authorities of internal affairs were detected 85.5  %, violations of traffic rules and vehicles commissioning regulations 98,1 % (as well as the crimes connected with traffic accidents resulting in death 98,1 %), the smuggling crimes 97,3 %, demanding by threat 97,2 %, the crimes of trafficking in human beings 97,1 %, intentional killing 95,1 %, fraud 94,5 %, intentionally causing serious damage to the health 94,4 %, hooliganism 93,5 %, rapes 92,6 %, crimes connected with drugs 91,9 %, robbery 90,2 %, appropriation and squander 86,3 %. As the consequence of relevant measures, detection of grave and especially grave crimes committed in non-public conditions was improved and raised to 81,5  % (+ 5,9 %).
In the structure of the crime, intentionally causing serious damage to the health was decreased 16 % (-62), fraud 27,9  % (-1075), crimes connected with car theft 7 % (-14), robbery 4,8 % (-6), theft 0,2 % (-13), hooliganism was increased 10,4 % (+ 86), ecological crimes 42,3 %  (+ 69), plunder 12,5 % (+ 34), smuggling crimes 60 % (+ 30), demand by threat 9,1 % (+ 7), intentional killing crimes 3,7 % (+ 6), 1 fact was recorded on the crime of taking hostage a man.
90.2  % of 3401 closed crimes (2335) was less grave crimes and crimes not entailing great public threat and only 9,8 % of them (332) were grave and especially grave crimes, 35,6 % of them (115) are the crimes against property, 49,7 % (165) of them are connected with illegal turnover of drugs, 11,4 % of them (38) are the crimes against the personality.
The measures of combating illicit trafficking of drugs being one of the transnational organized crimes have been efficient, the main focus was directed to removal of great amount of drugs from the illegal turnover. In the result, 191.8 kg more (+ 20.3 %), in total 1 tons 136 kg of drugs were taken during the previous year from the criminals on 2965 facts (+ 238) identified in connection with drugs and as well as 897 facts (+ 98) with the use of them. 290 kg of opium and heroin belonging to the class of drugs having strong effect were taken out from the turnover, with the operative and preventive measures taken, 45 criminal groups were neutralized, hemp and poppy bushes with total weight of about 138 tons were detected and destroyed in the form of green mass.
2020 of the 2349 persons involved into criminal liability (86 %) are unemployed and non-educated people with labor capacity, 902 of them (38,4 %) are persons who committed crime previously, 30 of them (1,3 %) are women.
Combating trafficking in human beings was systematic and consecutive. During the reporting period, 144 (+ 2) crimes of trafficking in human beings were identified, 13 (+ 5) criminal groups consisting of 28 (+ 11) persons were neutralized, 98 (+ 27) persons being the victims of trafficking in human beings were reintegrated into society.
In the result of investigative actions and operational measures continued jointly with prosecution authorities, 332 crimes, as well as 54 grave and especially grave crimes remaining closed from previous years (25 of them fraud, 8 of them appropriation and plunder, 5 of them kidnaping and other) were detected.
With the operational measures taken against the current crimes as protection of economic security of the state, 38 (+ 16) crimes of money counterfeiting and sale were detected. 1227 counterfeit banknotes in various nominal, 510 (+ 210) tons of foodstuff with expired dates and construction materials were removed from illegal turnover.
The inevitability of liability for the crime was kept under control. 3794 (+ 379) accused persons evading from court, investigation and examination authorities, as well as 582 (-85) accused persons for grave and especially grave crimes were arrested.
The places of 77 (+ 1) persons wanted by Central Bureau of INTERPOL and 39 (+ 2) persons wanted by the countries being member of INTERPOL were identified.
During the reporting period, the places of 3794 (74.5  %) wanted accused persons and 790 (82  %) of 964 persons announced to be missing in action were identified. In total, the results of search operations improved 3.1  % and arranged 74.5  %.
Positive results were obtained in arrest of wanted persons for theft crime (89,7 %), robbery (85,7 %), demand by threat (79,2 %), hooliganism (86,5 %), illicit trafficking in drugs (90,1 %).
In the result of criminal-investigation actions conducted in combating organized crime being of great importance in service activities, 869 (-159) criminal groups that committed 2277 (-421) crimes were neutralized.
During 2018, 12014 persons were involved into criminal liability, 9460 of them (78,7 %) were unemployed and uneducated persons, 3497 of them (29,1 %) were previously convicted persons, 663 of them (5,5 %) were women, 417 of them (3,5 %) were under mature age persons.