DUSHANBE, April 8, Asia-Plus — Issues related to carrying out joint operations to prevent the smuggling of Afghan drugs through the territory of Tajikistan to Europe were discussed at a meeting of Rustam Nazarov, director of the Tajik Drug Control Agency (DCA), with Bernhard Falk, the vice president of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office, that was held in Dushanbe on April 8, Asia-Plus ahs learned at the DCA press service.
During the meeting, the Tajik drug control chief briefed the German federal criminal police vice-president on measures taken by the Tajik government to combat drug trafficking. Nazarov, in particular, noted that the drug situation still remains complex in Afghanistan and despite efforts taken by the international community, the drug production in Afghanistan has shown upward tendency that poses threat to stability in the Central Asian region.
For his part, the German police official noted that Afghan drugs account for 90 percent of drugs being used in Europe, and therefore, European countries are cooperating with such countries as Tajikistan that are actively fighting the smuggling of drugs from Afghanistan. “It is in our interest to provide technical assistance, assistance with raining of personnel to special services of Tajikistan and exchange operational information with them,” Mr. Falk said.
The same day, a delegation of German police officers led by Mr. Falk visited the border-crossing checkpoint Nizhny Panj on the Tajik-Afghan border in the Khatlon province, where the Tajik law enforcement officers are carrying out the TARCET Operation to control the precursor movement, according to the DCA press service.
Tomorrow, Mr. Falk is scheduled to hold talks with senior representatives from Tajikistan Ministry of Interior and State Committee for National Security (GKNB).
