DUSHANBE, 04.02.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – The National Strategy on Combating Drugs for 2021-2030 has been prepared and submitted to the government for approval. All activities of the Drug Control Agency (DCA) in the coming years will be based on this strategy. This was stated today by the DCA Director Habibullo Vohidzoda at a press conference.

He noted that in 2020, the Agency had identified 144 drug-related crimes, which is 13 crimes or approximately 10% more than in the previous year. Of these, 97 crimes were related to illegal circulation of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, 6 crimes related to drug smuggling and other drug-related crimes.

When asked about the suppression of the activities of an organized transnational criminal group, from which more than 44 kg of drugs were seized from illegal circulation last year, the Vohidzoda noted that the criminal group included an Afghan citizen and two Tajik citizens.

Additionally, in order to identify and eliminate such transnational organized groups, per initiative and operational data of the Agency’s employees, a joint operation was carried out during 2020 with the competent authorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States, during which 34 members of the transnational organized criminal group were detained, including 16 people in Afghanistan, 18 people in the United States. Almost two tonnes of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as one machine gun, three cars and $165,000 were seized. This group included citizens of Afghanistan, the United States, Nigeria and other African states.

Another important achievement in this area Vohidzoda called the reduction of detentions of Tajik citizens for crimes related to drugs and drug trafficking.

For example, if in 2010 over 640 Tajik citizens were detained outside the country, and over 1.4 tonne of drugs was seized from them, then in the first nine months of 2020 just a little over 200 Tajik citizens were detained for this crime, with 109 kg of drugs seized.

“It should be noted that for the first time in the report of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime in 2020, the situation with drug control in the regions of Central Asia, including in Tajikistan, and the Northern Route has been positively assessed. The smuggling of drugs of Afghan origin through the Northern Route has been significantly reduced. Despite the fact that in previous years representatives of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime stated that more than 20% of Afghan drugs are transported through the Northern Route, now they themselves admit that only up to 10% of drugs are transported through this route. This statement is an important achievement for Tajikistan,” Vohidzoda mentioned.