DUSHANBE, June 20, Asia-Plus — Two residents of Dushanbe have been detained by officers from the Interior Ministry directorate for combating drug trafficking (drug police) on suspicion of having been involved in illicit precursor trafficking, according to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).
Mahmadullo Asadulloyev, a spokesman for a MoI, said that an operation carried out by the drug police officers near the residential complex Poytakht-80 in the center of Dushanbe on June 18 led to the seizure of 156 kilograms of acetic anhydride. Acetic anhydride was found in a car Mercedes belonging to the 52-year-old resident of Dushanbe Habibullo Karimov.
As a result of the preliminary investigation, the 53-year-old resident of Dushanbe Ibrohim Aliqoyev was detained as buddy of Karimov, the spokesman said.
Acetic anhydride is the chemical compound. It is one of the simplest acid anhydrides and is widely used reagent in organic synthesis.
As indicated by its organic chemistry, acetic anhydride is mainly used for acetylations leading to commercially significant materials. Its largest application is for the conversion of cellulose to cellulose acetate, which is a component of photographic film and other coated materials. Similarly it is used in the production of aspirin, acetyl salicylic acid, which is prepared by the acetylation of salicylic acid. It is also used as a wood preservative via autoclave impregnation to make a longer lasting timber. Because of its use for the synthesis of heroin by the diacetylation of morphine, acetic anhydride (known as ”AA” in clandestine chemistry circles) is listed as a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) List II Precursor,
and restricted in many other countries, including Tajikistan.
