QURGHON TEPPA, January 29, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Khatlon law enforcement authorities seized 1,113 kilograms of narcotics in 2009, which is 759 kilograms fewer than in 2008, Zafar Sayfulloyev, chief of the department for combating drug trafficking (drug police) within the Khatlon police directorate, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

“However, decrease in the volume of narcotics seized in the province does not mean decrease in the number of drug trafficking cases in the area,” noted Sayfulloyev, “Thus, 319 drug-related crimes were registered in Khatlon last year.”

In the meantime, more than 35 kilograms of narcotics were seized in two operations, carried out by officers from the Khatlon drug police department over the first month of this year, he added.