DUSHANBE, October 16, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik law enforcement authorities have seized more than 5,000 kilograms of narcotics over the first nine months of this year, which is 42.5 percent more than in the same period last year, the Drug Control Agency (DCA)’ press center reports.

A totaled reportedly included some 472 kilograms of heroin, 464 kilograms of raw opium and 4,093 kilograms of cannabis.

Over the report period, the counternarcotics agency itself has seized 519 kilograms of drugs, including some 60 kilograms of heroin, 18 kilograms of raw opium and 513 kilograms of cannabis.

Besides, the drug control officers have also seized more than 200 tablets of synthetic narcotics, 172 tablets of barbiturate, 37 tablets and 10 ampoules of bensodiasepin over the same nine-month period.

During the same period, security forces reportedly arrested 20 foreign citizens on drug charges in Tajikistan, including 10 citizens of Afghanistan.  The report does not detail the outcome of the cases.

Over the report period, more than 480 kilograms of narcotics have been burnt in the DCA incinerator, the source added.