DUSHANBE, January 8, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- An alleged weapon trafficker was arrested in Dushanbe when he was attempting to sell a large consignment of weapons and ammunition.

The Interior Ministry says undercover law enforcement officers have posed as gun buyers and unemployed M.M., 27, was arrested on January 6, when he sold to them four assault rifles Kalashnikov, two sub-machine-guns PKT, one grenade launcher, six attached grenade launchers, 21 magazines for assault rifle Kalashnikov, one bayonet, silencer for assault rifle and 2,800 bullets of different caliber for 2,500 U.S. dollars.  

According to the Interior Ministry data, 824 firearms, including 205 assault rifles, 154 pistols, 166 smooth-bore guns, 71 grenade launchers and 636 other types of weapons and explosives were confiscated or surrendered to police stations across the country last year under the ongoing weapons collection.

The campaign to urge people to surrender weapons was launched in December 1994.  Since then, more than 33,000 weapons have reportedly been confiscated or handed over to police stations.