DUSHANBE, January 25, 2012, Asia-Plus – Officers from the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan seized more than 994 kilograms of narcotics last year, DCA director Rustam Nazarov announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 25.

According to him, a totaled included more than 777.7 kilograms of cannabis, 120.3 kilograms of heroin and more than 46.5 kilograms of raw opium.

In all, more than 4,237 kilograms of narcotics, including 509.8 kilograms of heroin, 409.3 kilograms of raw opium and more than 3,230 kilograms of cannabis, were seized by Tajik law enforcement and power-wielding structures last year, Tajik drug control chief noted.

In 2011, officers from the counternarcotics agency instituted 163 criminal proceedings on drug charges; 108 cases have already moved to courts.

Last year, 50 foreigners were arrested in Tajikistan on drug charges, including 32 Afghans, seven citizens of Kyrgyzstan, six citizens of the Russian Federation and one national of China.