KHUJAND, July 11, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- The Drug Control Agency (DCA)’s office in Sughd province has instituted criminal proceedings against two residents of the Panjakent district, who are charged with growing drug-containing plants.

More than 5,000 plants of Indian hemp were reportedly found on the area of 0.1 ha in the Shokhach area, Panjakent district on July 10.  The preliminary investigation has established that the plants were grown by local residents N.Z., 32, and B.M., 28.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against them and an investigation is under way, the source said.

More than 1.5 million hemp plants have reportedly been discovered and destroyed in the northern Sughd province in the framework of the anti-drug operation, dubbed Kuknor-2012 (Poppy-2012).

This annual anti-drug operation, involving representatives of law enforcement agencies, local authorities, ministries of agriculture and health, as well as the committee for TV and radio-broadcasting, is dedicated to detect and destroy drug crops across the country.  The operation is usually launched in May and last through November.