QURGHON TEPPA, July 20, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Customs officers from the crossing Nizhny Panj in Khatlon province have reportedly warded off an attempt by Afghan national to smuggle a number of ancient coins out of Tajikistan.

Olim Sharipov, a spokesman for the Khatlon customs directorate, told Asia-Plus today that Afghan national Said Mohammad Saidmahmad was detained at the crossing Nizhny Panj in Khatlon’s Qumsangir district at the end of last week on suspicion of having been involved in cultural relic smuggling.

“When searching his luggage, customs officers found seven ancient coins; four of them are dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC,” the spokesman said.

All the found coins were confiscated and criminal proceedings have been instituted against the smuggler.