DUSHANBE, November 16, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik border guard service’s press center has officially denied information of Uzbek colleagues about Tajik border guards’ engage in drug trafficking as “absolutely unfounded.”
Khoushnoud Rahmatulloyev, a spokesman for the SCNS Main Border Guard Directorate, stated that allegations by Uzbek counterparts that Tajik border guards were involved in drug trafficking were baseless.
He confirmed that Tajik border guards killed one Uzbek border guard in Sughd province on November 13, but he noted that no drugs had been found at the scene.
According to him, the Uzbek border guards had illegally crossed into Tajik territory to protect a group of smugglers, who were trying to bring home electrical appliances into Uzbekistan.
“Despite numerous warnings both in Uzbek and Russian, the Uzbek border guards crossed into Tajik territory near the frontier post “Hashtiyak,” the border unit “Istaravashan.” They were trying to protect smugglers,” Rahmatulloyev said, noting that the Tajik border guards opened fire in accordance with relevant regulations, killing one Uzbek border guard.
He said a meeting of border representatives with participation of representatives of military prosecutor’s offices of both countries was held on November 14 to investigate the incident.
“After thorough examination of the scene of the incident, the commission members came to a conclusion that there was the smuggling of home electrical appliance in this case,” said Rahmatulloyev, “Uzbek women named Nasiba was organizer of the smuggling. The persons involved in the smuggling were detained, an investigation is under way.”
Meanwhile, the news agency, REGNUM, reported on November 14 that Uzbekistan has accused Tajik border guards of being involved in drug trafficking and armed attack on Uzbek border guards.
According to Uzbekistan’s National Security Service, Uzbek border guards allegedly warded off an attempt of smuggling a large amount of narcotics via Tajik-Uzbek border near the Uzbek city of Bekabad on November 13 at 9:20 pm. Tajik border guards allegedly opened fire while Uzbek border guards were attempting to detain a group of smugglers. As a result, one Uzbek border guard was killed. A large consignment of drugs, including more than 3.8 kilograms of heroin amount, was allegedly found on the spot.
