Officers of the Dushanbe Police Department have detained members of an organized criminal group involved in drug trafficking.
The Dushanbe Police Department’s official website says 127 kg of various narcotics were seized during the operation. A totaled reportedly included 55 kilograms of hashish and 72 kilograms of opium.
Five people were arrested and the ringleader was identified as Shamsullo Hukumatov, a resident of Dushanbe, who had previously faced criminal charges for similar offenses.
Authorities reported that Hukumatov purchased drugs from Afghan dealers and organized their distribution through his accomplices. During interrogation, Hukumatov revealed that he sold one kilogram of drugs for US$1,500.
All suspects are currently in pretrial detention. Criminal proceedings have been instituted against them under Article 200 (4) of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code — illegal trafficking in narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances for the purpose of distribution; an investigation is under way.
This offense is punishable by 12 to 20 years of imprisonment.
In December of the previous year, police in Dushanbe detained five people for distributing psychotropic substances. In two instances, methamphetamine and Pregabalin tablets were seized.
