DUSHANBE, February 13, Asia-Plus - One of passengers of a car with more than 197 kilograms of drugs that was detained in Varzob on February 11 proved to be officers of the national security service.   

As it had been reported earlier, over 197 kilograms of drugs, including more than 144 kilograms of raw opium and some 53 kilograms of heroin were intercepted in the Varzob district on February 11.  The drugs were found in a car Niva-Chevrolet belonging to resident of the Khatlon province Izatullo Safarov. 

Safarov and two his passengers were arrested on suspicion of having been involved in drug trafficking.  A source at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said that one of the passengers had proved to be officer of the Central Committee for National Security, Major Tohirjon Rahmatov.      

It is the largest single consignment of drugs seized in Tajikistan since the beginning of the year, according to the source.

In 2006, Tajik law-enforcement authorities seized some 4,790 kilograms of drugs.  Of this amount, 2,442 kilograms of drugs were intercepted by the MoI officers.