KHUJAND, July 23, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- More than 169 kilograms of narcotics have been seized in Sughd province over the first six months of this year, which is 219 kilograms fewer than in the same period of last year, Mirzoravshan Qutfiddinov, an official with the Sughd counternarcotics directorate, said.

According to him, Sughd law enforcement authorities seized 388 kilograms of narcotics, with 257 kilograms of them being heroin, in January-June 2009.

Over the first half-year of 2010, local law enforcement authorities have detected 157 drug-related crimes.  During the same period, law enforcement officers arrested 159 people on drug charges, including 15 women.

On the activities of the Sughd counternarcotics directorate, Qutfiddinov noted that local drug control officers have seized 37 kilograms of narcotics, including more than 28 kilograms of heroin, over the report period.