KHUJAND, November 1, 2012, Asia-Plus -- The Sughd police directorate has reported a large haul of hashish.

Akbar Sharipov, a spokesman for the Sughd police directorate, says local resident A.M., 39, was arrested in Khujand on October 31 on suspicion of having been involved in drug pushing.  59.5 kilograms of hashish were confiscated from him.

Additional operational measures taken by local police on the same day led to the arrest of his partner in crime -- the 41-year-old resident of Khatlon province, M.S.  30.5 kilograms of hashish were confiscated from him.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the detained drug peddlers under the provisions of Article 200 (4) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – drug trafficking; an investigation is under way.

According to the statistical data from the Drug Control Agency (DCA)’s office in Sughd province, local law enforcement authorities have seized 365.537 kilograms of narcotics over the first nine months of this year.  A totaled included 92 kilograms of heroin, more than 165 kilograms of hashish and more than 24 kilograms of raw opium.