DUSHANBE, February 4, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik border guards have reportedly warded off an attempt by Afghan armed drug traffickers to cross into Tajik territory.

According to the Main Border Guard Administration press center, border guards on a routine patrol spotted and tried to detain a group of trespassers who were illegally crossing the border river in the Panj district, Khatlon province overnight between February 2 and 3.

“They were armed drug smugglers from the group of Afghan drug dealer Maluk waladi Mullah Munawwar,” said the source, “As a result of exchange of gunfire, one of drug traffickers was killed while the others managed to return to the contiguous territory under cover of night.”

In the morning of February 3, Tajik border guards found one carbine, several portable radio transmitters and more than 20 kilograms of cannabis at the scene of the skirmish, the source added.