DUSHANBE, March 18, 2009, Asia-Plus — In the framework of ongoing cooperation between the United States Government and Tajikistan”s security structures, on March 17 the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Officer Jeffrey Scott Waldo provided two KAMAZ trucks and associated spare parts to them to the Main Department of Border Guards Forces.
According to the US Embassy in Dushanbe, the value of the vehicles, which will be used by the Tajik Border Guards, is about $150,000. The donated trucks and equipment are intended to further support daily operations of the border guards, who are engaged in the important task of protecting the Tajik border and interdicting narcotics smugglers.
The U.S. Embassy has cooperated with Tajikistan law enforcement structures since 1992. In 2008 the U.S. Embassy”s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement financed the $424,000 renovation of the Sari Ghor border post along the Tajik-Afghan border. In 2007 INL supported the reconstruction of border posts in Bog for $338,000 and Bahorak for $298,000 in addition to the $37 million bridge over the Panj River built by the U.S. Government in Nijzhny Panj in 2007.
Since 1992 the Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement has implemented assistance projects totaling more than $28 million to provide border security, support rule of law, and combat drug trafficking efforts. The United States Government is committed to continue its support to the Tajik border guards.
