It was responsible for drafting state policy, legal regulation, control and monitoring in combating the trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors.

On 11 March 2003, the agency was transformed into the State Committee of Russian Federation to Monitor the Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (GOSNARCOCONTROL).

On 6 June 2003, the Duma approved the Regulations on the State Committee of Russian Federation for the control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

On 15 May 2008, President Dmitry Medvedev appointed the former KGB general Viktor Ivanov as a Director of the Russian Federal Drug Control Service.

On 5 April 2016, the FSKN was replaced by the Main Directorate for Drugs Control of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.