"Units of this kind should carry out tasks of cutting short drug trafficking channels and take part in operations to destroy drug dealing structures," the Interfax news agency quoted Medvedev as saying during a meeting with Viktor Ivanov, head of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service.

Ivanov briefed Medvedev on Russia’s cooperation with other countries in combating drug trafficking. He said operations are conducted on a regular basis with more countries’ participation.

"This makes it possible to step up the work of the law enforcement agencies that are involved in intercepting drugs," Ivanov said.

The CSTO, a security group that includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, agreed in February to form the rapid reaction forces.

The forces, which Medvedev said "will be just as good as comparable NATO forces," are expected to counter such threats as military aggression, terrorist activities, cross-border crimes and drug trafficking.