DUSHANBE, October 23, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- A mercury smuggling attempt has been warded off in northern Tajikistan.   

According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), two women from Sughd’s Bobojonghafurov district and one woman from Uzbekistan were detained at the Ehson Hotel in Khujand yesterday on suspicion of having been involved in mercury smuggling.  A container carrying one kilogram mercury was confiscated from them. 

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against under the provisions of Article 206 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – illicit trafficking in drastic and toxic agents, and an investigation is under way, the source said.