KHUJAND, January 4, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A total of more than five kilograms of heroin hidden in the dried apricot stones have been seized in the Sughd province.

According to the Sughd police directorate, the narcotics were seized in the operation carried out by police officers in the city of Konibodom on Sunday, January3.

“982 grams of heroin hidden in the dried apricot stones were found in the house of a 39-year-old resident of Konibodom Tohir Nazarov,” said the source at the Sughd police directorate, “The same day, 3,476 kilograms of heroin hidden in the dried apricot stones were found in the home of a 34-year-old Ayub Ikromov; the preliminary investigation has established that the narcotics found in Ikromov’s house belong to Tohir Nazarov.  Besides, another 800 grams of heroin hidden in the dried apricot stones were found in the home of a 39-year-old Husein Azimov.”  A total weight of the confiscated drugs was 5.258 kilograms, the source added.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Tohir Nazarov and Husein Azimov under the provisions of Article 200, Part 4 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – trafficking in narcotics, psychotropic substances and precursors, and an investigation is under way.