DUSHANBE, March 29, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Nine firearms were reportedly confiscated or voluntarily handed over to police stations in Tajikistan last Monday.

According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), investigation and search operations carried out by police officers on March 28 led to the discovery of one hunting gun in Dushanbe, one Makarov pistol in eastern Tajikistan, TOZ-8 small bore rifle, assault rifle Kalashnikov and IZH-18 hunting gun in Gorno Badakhshan, and IZH hunting gun in Khatlon’s Vose district.

“Besides, resident of Murgab district in Gorno Badakhshan voluntarily handed over the Makarov pistol to local police station,” the source at a MoI said.

According to the Interior Ministry data, 390 firearms, including 91 assault rifles, 68 pistols, 60 rifles, 40 grenade launchers, as well as 179 explosives and large amount of bullets of different caliber have been confiscated or voluntarily handed over to police stations across the country since the beginning of this year.