DUSHANBE, June 15, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The counternarcotics agency of Tajikistan has reported breaking up a drug-smuggling gang and seizing more than 36 kilograms of hashish on June 14.

According to press service of the Drug Control Agency (DCA), an operation carried out by the drug control officers in Dushanbe on June 14 led to the arrest of a number of residents of Khatlon’s Farkhor district.  20 packages containing hashish were confiscated from them.  23 other packages containing hashish were found in the Farkhor district.  A total weight of the confiscated hashish is more than 36 kilograms.

The detainees were reportedly engaged in transporting Afghan narcotics through Tajikistan to the Russian Federation.

The operation was carried out within the framework of the ongoing anti-drug operation, dubbed Poppy-2009, the press service said.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the detained drug smugglers under the provisions of Article 200, Part 4 (drug trafficking) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code and an investigation is under way.