DUSHANBE, December 7, 2014, Asia-Plus — Officers from the State Committee for National Security (SCNS)’s have reportedly warded off an attempt by Afghan drug dealers to take resident of Tajik border village hostage.
According to the SCNS public relations center, the incident took place in the Surkhialam area of the Sari Chashma jamoat in the Shouroobod district, Khatlon province on December 1.
“Security officers went into action with Afghan drug dealers, who were going to take Tajik national with them to the Afghan territory as hostage,” the source said.
As a result of an exchange of gunfire, one of Afghan trespassers, Shukur waladi Davlatali, 25, was killed and another one, Nadir waladi Jumakhan was wounded. Nadir waladi Jumakhan and other Afghan drug traffickers managed to return to the Afghan territory, the source said.
Members of this criminal group are reportedly suspected of being involved in murders and hostage taking. A pistol and a mobile phone with SIM cards of two Tajik mobile phone operators as well as more than 11 kilograms of narcotics were found on the spot.
Criminal proceedings have been instituted and an investigation is under way.
It is to be noted that residents of border villages in the Shouroobod district are falling prey to Afghan drug dealers who are taking desperate measure to recover debts. Afghan drug dealers are taking them from their villages and holding hostage until their families pay ransom money to clear debts.
