Drugs are smuggled into Tajikistan out of neighboring Afghanistan, Habibullo Vohidzoda, Director of the Drug Control Agency under the President of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on February 17.
According to him, eight national of Afghanistan and to nationals of Uzbekistan were detained in Tajikistan for drug trafficking. “A total of 829 kilograms of narcotic drugs were confiscated from them,” the drug control chief said.
“Smuggling of narcotic drugs into Tajikistan has increased since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan. Of more than 4 tons of drugs seized in Tajikistan last year, more than 2 tons have been seized during this period (since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan),” the drug control kingpin said.
He further noted that 889 kilograms of drugs were seized last year in Hamadoni district of Khatlon province.
“Besides, a large amount of drugs was also seized last year Panj, Shamsiddin-Shohin, Shahritous and Jaihoun districts of Khatlon province, which also border Afghanistan,”
“In 2021, most drugs were seized in Khatlon province – 2,391 kilograms, which is 58.6 percent of the total amount of drugs seized in the country,” Vohidzoda added.
