DUSHANBE, January 9, 2009, Asia-Plus — The results of work carried out by Tajik border guards last year were reviewed at a January 7 meeting of the main border directorate within the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), presided over by the GKNB chief, Colonel-General Khayriddin Abdurahimov, according to Khoushnoud Rahmatuloyev, a spokesman for the main border directorate.
During the meeting, it was noted that last year saw 17 skirmishes between the border guards and armed dug smugglers on the Tajik-Afghan border. 10 drug smugglers were killed and two others were wounded. 21 drug couriers were detained in 2008.
916 kilograms of narcotics were seized by the border guards last year. A totaled included 110 kilograms of heroin, 752 kilograms of cannabis and 53 kilograms of raw opium.
79 special operations carried out by the border guards jointly with officers from other power-wielding structures of the country last year led to the seizure of 36 firearms, including 14 sub-machine-guns Kalashnikov, 13 grenade launchers, 6 carbines, 2 pistols, one machine-gun, and 717 bullets of different caliber.
The meeting also considered issues related to strengthening of border, especially the Afghan stretch, and set tasks for this year, the spokesman said.
