DUSHANBE, October 22, 2009, Asia-Plus -- Am official with the Khujand customs service, Colonel M.K., is suspected of having been involved in money contraband and drug trafficking, a source at one of law enforcement agencies of Tajikistan said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, an inspection of passengers on the Dushanbe-Urumqi (China) flight on the night of October 20-21 found more than 686,000 U.S. dollars in a luggage belonging to the Istaravshan resident D.M.

“It has been established that the undeclared money belong to entrepreneur R.H. who was also passenger on that flight and Colonel M.K. helped them illegally transport the money from Khujand to Dushanbe,” the source said.

He also noted that it could not be ruled out that M.K. was involved in drug trafficking as well.  “When searching his office, law enforcement officers found 55 grams of heroin in his safe,” the source said.

All the mentioned persons were detained and an investigation is under way.