DUSHANBE, June 16, Asia-Plus — Security officers jointly with border guards have detained a group of Afghan nationals that were involved in illegally gathering ferula in the territory of Tajikistan, according to the public relations center within the State Committee for National Security (GKNB).
In all, fifteen Afghan were detained when they were illegally gathering ferula in the territory of the districts of Roudaki, Shahrinav and Khuroson districts. “The detainees had tourist visas which do not allow their holders to be engaged in labor activity in the territory of Tajikistan,” said the source at the GKNB public relations center. “Moreover, ferula is listed in Tajikistan’s Red Data Book.”
The source further added that Tajik nationals Homid Ashourov and Sayfullo Rasouov will be made answerable for illegally involving Afghan national sin gathering ferula in Tajikistan.
Ferula assafoetida is a species of ferula native to Iran. It is an herbaceous perennial plant growing to two meters tall, with stout, hollow, somewhat succulent stems 5-8 cm diameter at the base of the plant. The leaves are 30–40 cm long, tripinnate or even more finely divided, with a stout basal sheath clasping the stem.
Asafetida has certain medicinal uses and most commonly is used as a digestive aid. It is reputed to lessen flatulence and is often added to lentil or eggplant dishes in small quantities. It is also said to be helpful in cases of asthma and bronchitis.
