Last year, Tajikistan’s power-wielding structures sized a total of 5.2 tons of narcotic drugs, which is 5.8 percent more than in 2022, Tajik drug control chief Samad Zafar told reporters in Dushanbe on February 5
He noted that the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan sized 495.097 kilograms of narcotic drugs in 2023, which is 4.9 percent fewer than in 2022.
“Although a total volume of narcotic drugs seized by the counter narcotic agency decreased, the seizure of more dangerous psychotropic substances increased 3.8 times last year; the seizure of raw opium increased by 37.2 percent over the reporting period,” DCA chief said.
Mr. Zafar further noted that the law enforcement authorities last year seized 421.588 kilograms of heroin, which is 178 kilograms more than in 2022 (in 2022, the law enforcement authorities reportedly seized 243.588 kilograms of heroin).
In addition, the seizure of hemp last year increased by 16.8 percent or 631 kilograms compared to 2022 (in 2022, the law enforcement authorities destroyed 3,696 kilograms of hemp).
Besides, the seizure of hashish increased last year by 19.4 percent or 696 kilograms (in 2022, the law enforcement authorities seized 3,597.288 kilograms of hashish).
The drug control chief said that over the reporting period, the law enforcement agencies prevented activities of 41 criminal groups with a total number of members amounting to 77 and one organized criminal group (in 2022, the law enforcement agencies prevented activities of 37 criminal groups with a total number of members amounting to 89).
Samad Zafar also noted that 10 people wanted for drug-related crimes were arrested last year.
He further added that two operations carried out by the Tajik counter narcotic agency jointly with the competed bodies of the Russian Federation resulted in the seizure of 38.476 kilograms of narcotic drugs.
The bitter statistics
To date, a total number of officially registered drug addicts in Tajikistan is 4,160 people, with 107 of them being women.
Compared to 2022, the number of the officially registered drug addicts in the country decreased by 5.0 percent. As of December 31, 2022, there were 4,381 officially registered drug addicts in Tajikistan, with 101 of them being women.
