DUSHANBE, July 27, Asia-Plus - Three citizens of Uzbekistan have been detained in northern Tajikistan on suspicion of having been involved in drug pushing.  

According to information from the Tajik border service, three Uzbeks were detained Wednesday when they were proceeding via crossing on the Tajik-Kyrgyz border in the Lakkon jamoat of the northern district of Isfara.  When searching their car Tajik border guards discovered more than one kilogram of heroin.  Investigation is under way.  

On the same day, Tajik border troops on a routine patrol spotted and tried to detain a group of Afghan armed smugglers numbering five persons who were illegally crossing the border river in the area of Vashtpusht in the Shuroobod district, Khatlon.  The trespassers fired at the border troops and tried to flee.  As a result of skirmish two Afghans were detained and the other three managed to hide themselves in the forests of Vashtpusht, the source said.  No injured was reported among the Tajik border troops, according the source.  One sub-machine-gun “Kalashnikov” and five head of cattle stolen from local residents were found on the spot.