DUSHANBE, August 10, Asia-Plus - An arms cache has been discovered in an ongoing special border operation dubbed “Marzbon 2006,” according to information from the Tajik border service.

The source says the arms cache was discovered at the Tajik-Afghan border in the Darvoz district of Gorno Badakhshan yesterday.  Three sub-machine-guns “Kalashnikov”, three anti-tank grenade launchers RPG-22, two carbines and a large amount of bullets of different caliber were extracted from the hide.  

On the same day, Afghan drug trafficker was killed when he was illegally crossing the border river in the Shuroobod district in Khatlon.  One sub-machine-gun “Kalashnikov”, more than 50 kilograms of cannabis and 4 kilograms of heroin were found on the spot.  

Five CIS states are currently holding a special joint counterterrorism and counternarcotics operation dubbed “Marzbon 2006.”  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan launched this joint operation on August 8.  The operation involves border guards, the defense, interior, emergencies ministries of all five participating countries, as well as their migration services and drug enforcement agencies.  The main objective of the operation is in preventing terrorists and illegal migrants from crossing into territories of countries participating in the operation, as well as preventing trafficking in drugs and weapons.