KULOB, July 28, Asia-Plus – On July 25, two Tajiks that were held hostage in
Afghanistan
were released following negotiations between Tajik law enforcement officers and their Afghan colleagues.
The Shuroobod police directorate chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Abdurrahim Buzmakov, has told Asia-Plus that on the night of July 16-17 an armed group of Afghan drug traffickers numbering 12 people captured a 25-year-old resident of the
village
of
Sebandi Muhammad Yusupov
and a 16-year-old resident of the
village
of
Fartangi Khusrav Emomov
and took them to
Afghanistan
.
“They took drugs from Afghan drug traffickers and paid counterfeit dollars for narcotics,” said Buzmakov, “An operational group comprising border officers and officers from the Kulob police and security directorates has negotiated the release of the hostages.”
Lieutenant-Colonel Buzmakov added that criminal proceedings had been instituted against Muhammad Yusupov and Khusrav Emomov. They face charges of being involved in drug trafficking and use of counterfeit money. According to him, it was the first case of taking of Tajik citizens by Afghan drug traffickers hostage this year.
Tajiks living near the border with
Afghanistan
are falling prey to drug dealers who are taking desperate measure to recover debts. The most vulnerable part of the Tajik border is the southern Shuroobod area. Afghan raiders take people hostages, steal cattle, and seized goods from the villagers to recover debts.
