KHUJAND, February 12, 2010, Asia-Plus — former chief of the customs control at the Khujand airport, Colonel Musayam Qodirov, has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Sughd regional court on February 11 ruled that Musayam Qodirov be given a jail term of eight year and that he will serve it in a high-security penal colony. The sentenced followed his conviction on the charges of abuse of office, bribery, preparation to commit crime and attempt crime, drug trafficking, and contraband.
Qodirov was detained on the night of October 20-21, 2009 on suspicion of having been involved in complicity in bulk cash smuggling and drug trafficking.
As it had been reported earlier, resident of the Istaravshan district, D.M., who was traveling to Urumqi, China was detained at the Khujand airport on the night of October 21, 2009 for having US$686,000 in undeclared cash in his luggage.
The investigation established that the money belonged to entrepreneur R.H., who was also supposed to travel to Urumqi that day, and Colonel Qodirov helped him smuggle they money. When searching Qodirov’s office, police officers found 55 grams of heroin in his safe.
We will recall that Tajik authorities detained a Chinese national at the Khujand airport on November 23, 2009 and confiscated US$150,000 in undeclared money that he was carrying.
Tajik customs laws allow Tajik citizens to carry up to $10,000 in undeclared cash with them, while foreigners can have up to $3,000 when traveling. Any sums exceeding those amounts must be declared and have supporting documents showing the origin of the funds.
