DUSHANBE, 24.01.2018 /NIAT “Khovar”/. The Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan registered and uncovered 164 drug offenses in 2017, the majority of which is the illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances for the purpose of sale. It was said today, January 24 at a press conference by Deputy Director of the Agency Murtazo Haydarzoda.

Voicing these figures, he noted that for this period 237 administrative offenses were identified in connection with drug trafficking, and 289 persons were brought to administrative responsibility, which is compared to 2016 more than 100 facts or 73%. The offenders were fined in the amount of 275 thousand 920 TJS.

In addition, the staff of the Drug Control Agency under the President of the RT conducted six joint operations with law enforcement agencies of Afghanistan, Russia and the People’s Republic of China in 2017, as a result of which illegal activities of organized criminal groups were uncovered and about 210 kg of 75 g of narcotic substances were seized.

According to Murtazo Haydarzoda, in order to strengthen cooperation with the relevant bodies of the republic, 13 joint operations were conducted together with the Border Troops of the State Committee for National Security of the Republic of Tajikistan on the State Border of Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and 296 kg of 822 g of drugs were seized from the illegal trafficking as a whole.

In particular, the law enforcement agencies and power structures have prevented the activity of 7 organized criminal groups in 2017 in the republic, which is compared to 2016 more than 3 facts. Of this number, only the Agency staff prevented the activities of 5 organized criminal groups.

The necessary measures were taken in the field of detention of persons under international wanted list: 13 persons were detained and brought to criminal responsibility.

Also, the DCA staff seized 322 units of various firearms and ammunition, including 2 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 5 pistols, 3 units of other weapons and 312 ammunition items.