DUSHANBE, 14.06.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – On the night of June 13 through early morning hours of June 14, as a result of the joint operation of employees of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) and the SCNS Border Troops, an attempt to illegally cross the state border by members of an Afghan transnational drug group was prevented, reports the SCNS Border Troops’ Press Center.

A group of transnational smugglers led by 35-year-old resident of Navobod village in Chayab district of Afghan Takhar province Hoji Abdukholiq son of Hoji Muhammadsiddiq intended to illegally cross and transport large quantities of narcotics into Tajikistan through the service area of the Chubek border guard of SCNS’s military unit 0307.

While crossing the state border, the smugglers opened fire in response to warnings by the operational-combat group to prevent illegal actions. During the fierce armed resistance, one smuggler was neutralized. The second member of an organized criminal group, despite receiving minor injuries, managed to escape into the neighboring country.

During the search of the scene, the body of the head of the smugglers Hoji Abdukholiq, a Kalashnikov assault rifle, a rifle with 38 bullets, a plastic bag with 10 packages of drugs were found and seized.

Criminal proceedings by the SCNS against this incident and an investigation is under way.

The transnational criminal connections of the smuggling groups will be resolutely pursued with the aim of identifying, apprehending, prosecuting and preventing their future actions.