DUSHANBE, December 8, Asia-Plus -- Customs officers have seized nearly one kilogram of heroin at the Dushanbe office, according to the Customs Service.

A source at the Customs Service told Asia-Plus that on Thursday December 7, an inspection of passengers on the flight Dushanbe-Moscow found 950 kilograms of heroin hidden in shoes in a suitcase belonging to a 22-year student of the Faculty of Biology at Tajik National University Solijon Salomatshoyev.    

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Salomatshoyev and an investigation is under way.  He faces charges under two articles of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code: Article 32, Part 3 (Preparation for crime) and Article 289, Part 3 (Smuggling by means of breaking customs border).