DUSHANBE, January 30, 2014, Asia-Plus /Avaz Yuldoshev/ -- Leader of an organized criminal group has been arrested in Khujand, the capital of the northern Sughd province.

The State Committee for National Security (SCNS) public relations center reported on January 30 that Firouz Qurbonov, leader of the organized criminal group called “Abreshimchi” (Silk producer), and his partner in crime Fathullo Rajabov have been arrested.

“The criminal group was broken up in November 20013 and its members got long jail terms.  Zohirjon Boboyev was sentenced to 11 years in prison while Abdumajid Khalilov and Nabijon Sobirov were sentenced to 10 years in prison each.  The ringleader Firouz Qurbonov and the group active member Fathullo Rajabov managed to escape arrest that time,” the source.

According to him, Boboyev and Rajabov secretly returned to Khujand in late December.

The group had been active in “Abreshimchi” (silk-producing plant) area of Khujand, and therefore, It was called “Abreshimchi.”

Boboyev and Rajabov are accused of robbery and extortion, involving use of weapons, and criminal proceedings have been instituted against them under the provisions of Article 250 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code - use of violence for personal gain in a preliminary collusion, the source added.