DUSHANBE, January 6, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- In 2008, officers from the Drug Control Agency (DCA) seized 1,316.838 kilograms of narcotics, which is 8.6 percent more than in 2007, according to the DCA press service.

A totaled included 368.59 kilograms of heroin, 574.032 kilograms of raw opium and 374.216 kilograms of cannabis.

Last year, the counter narcotics agency burned 2,653.222 kilograms of narcotics.  The burnt drugs were confiscated in the course of 2007-08.

The DCA instituted 106 criminal proceedings on drug charges last year and 83 criminal proceedings instituted against 109 persons have already moved to courts.

Joint operations carried out by officers from the counter narcotics agency in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan and special services of the CIS states and Afghanistan last year led to the seizure of 3,230.303 kilograms of narcotics.