DUSHANBE, January 28, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The Drug Control Agency is currently investigating activities of twelve transnational drug-trafficking groups, Tajik drug control chief announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 27.

He noted that members of these criminal rings included both national of Tajikistan and citizens of other countries.  Among them are also law enforcement officers.

According to data of the counternarcotics agency, Tajik law enforcement authorities seized more than 4,571 kilograms of narcotics in 2009.  A totaled included 1,132 kilograms of heroin, 1,066 kilograms of raw opium and 2,372 kilograms of cannabis.

In 2009, Tajik counternarcotics agency solved 21 drug-related crimes and broke up five criminal groups; 85 persons were arrested on the drug charges.