DUSHANBE, October 18, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik police officers have reportedly seized more that 71 kilograms of narcotics in two separate operations carried out in the city of Kulob and the Shouroobod district, Khatlon province.

According to the Interior Ministry’s website, the operation carried out by police officers in the city of Kulob on October 17 led to the arrest of local resident Nourali Akobirov, 41, on suspicion of drug pushing.  4.598 kilograms of raw opium were confiscated from him.

On the same day, police officers carried out an operation in the Shouroobod district bordering Afghanistan.  Local resident Sulaymon Talabov, 25, was arrested on suspicion of having been involved in drug trafficking.  More than 66 kilograms of drugs were confiscated from him.  A totaled reportedly included 1.852 kilograms of hashish, 23.404 kilograms of raw opium and 41.39 kilograms of cannabis.

Criminal proceedings have been institute against the detained alleged drug peddlers and an investigation is under way, the source said.