DUSHANBE, October 2, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The main border directorate within the State Committee for National Security (GKNB) has reported a large drug haul (totaling 204 kilograms) on the Shuroobod stretch of the Tajik-Afghan border in the Khatlon province. 

According to the border directorate, their servicemen on routine patrol spotted a group of armed persons who were illegally crossing the border river in Khatlon’s Shuroobod district Monday (September 30) night. 

The border guards fired on trespassers after the last tried to flee.  The trespassers were supported by fire from the Afghan territory.  “Three Tajik nationals were detained at the scene of action with 204 kilograms of narcotic drugs, mainly opium and marijuana, while the Afghan drug traffickers managed to return to the contiguous territory,” the source at the border directorate said, adding that no wounded was reported.

The source noted that this year had seen fifteen skirmishes between border guards and armed drug smugglers on the Tajik-Afghan border.  Three Tajik border guards have been killed in those skirmishes.  More than 1,300 kilograms of drugs have been seized by the border guards and security officers on the Tajik-Afghan border since the beginning of this year.