DUSHANBE, October 16, Asia-Plus - Tajikistan’s law enforcement agencies have detained 24 supporters of a rebellious colonel, Mahmoud Khudoiberdiyev, and 16 supporters of another ringleader, Rahim Abdullo, this year, the First Deputy Minister of Interiors, Abdurrahim Qahhorov, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on October 16.  

He added that police have neutralized seven criminal groups over the past nine months, having detained 36 members of them.  According to him, these criminal groups committed 44 grave crimes, ranging from banditry to killing.   

Over the same nine-months, police have confiscated more than 1,500 firearms, including 288 sub-machine-guns Kalashnikov, 146 pistols, 160 carbines, 62 rifles, 474 hunting guns, etc. 

Tajik police have some 2 tons of drugs, including 1,070 kilograms of heroin, over the same nine-month period, according to Qahhorov.