In 2025, Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan saw a significant increase in drug seizures, with a total of 2,742 kilograms of narcotics confiscated, compared to 1,824 kilograms in 2024—almost a ton more than the previous year. This was reported by Zafar Samad, Director of the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan, during a news conference in Dushanbe on February 2.
According to Samad, of this total, 2,566 kilograms were seized along the border with the Khatlon province, and 186 kilograms along the border with the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).
"There were 17 armed confrontations with Afghan drug traffickers on the Tajik-Afghan border in 2025, compared to 6 in 2024. Ten Afghan nationals were neutralized (up from 3 in 2024)," Samad stated. He added that two employees of the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan were also killed during these clashes.
The head of the agency emphasized that "there is no inter-agency cooperation with Afghan authorities, and no negotiations have taken place." However, he acknowledged that "drug trafficking from Afghanistan through Tajikistan to other countries continues."
Fewer drug addicts in Tajikistan
As of January 1, 2026, Tajikistan had 4,004 registered drug addicts, a decrease of 10 people or 0.2% compared to the previous year.
Of the total, 105 were women (down from 110 in 2024). Samad reported that 1,182 of those registered (29.5%) use drugs intravenously. In 2025, 343 individuals were newly registered in the country's narcological institutions with drug addiction diagnoses.
"Sixty-five deaths among drug addicts were recorded in 2025, including four women," Samad noted, adding that, "Tajikistan has 40 drug addicts per 100,000 population, which is relatively low compared to other countries."
Arrest of 22 foreign nationals for drug trafficking
In 2025, 22 foreign nationals were arrested for drug trafficking into Tajikistan, with 275 kilograms of narcotics seized. Among them:
· 9 Afghan nationals — 99 kilograms;
· 8 Uzbek nationals — 131 kilograms;
· 4 Kazakh nationals — 44 kilograms;
· 1 Moldovan national — 4 grams.
The details of the punishments they received were not disclosed.
In 2024, 14 foreign nationals were arrested, and 270 kilograms of narcotics were confiscated. Additionally, in 2025, 583 Tajik citizens were detained abroad for narcotics-related crimes, with 208 kilograms of drugs seized. In 2024, 850 Tajik citizens were arrested abroad for similar offenses.
Growing drug-related crime
The press conference also raised concerns about the rising number of crimes related to the illegal drug trade. According to the Drug Control Agency, 23,452 crimes were registered in Tajikistan in 2025, an increase of 1,138 cases compared to 2024 (22,314).
Of these, 1,003 crimes (4%) were related to drug trafficking, a decrease of 164 cases from the previous year. Samad reported that law enforcement authorities seized 5,280 kilograms of narcotics in 2025, which is 898 kilograms (21%) more than in 2024.
This included 253 kilograms of psychotropic substances, which was 142 kilograms more than the previous year (almost double). Of this, 247 kilograms, or 97%, consisted of methamphetamine, a 2.3-fold increase (141 kilograms) compared to 2024.
In 2025, 44 criminal groups (up from 32 in 2024) were dismantled, involving 88 individuals engaged in drug trafficking. The Agency investigated 132 criminal cases involving 180 people, which were sent to court. In 2024, 84 cases were considered.
In conclusion, Zafar Samad noted that "despite the alarming situation, it is under the control of law enforcement agencies." After the press conference, Agency staff, in the presence of journalists, burned approximately 316 kilograms of seized narcotics.