DUSHANBE, June 9, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Afghan national has been detained with a large amount of cannabis in southern Tajikistan.

According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Afghan national Abdulvohid waladi Abduvali, 50, was detained by police officers in Qumsangir district, Khatlon province on June 8 on suspicion of having been involved in drug pushing.  49.5 kilograms of cannabis and several grams of hashish were confiscated from him.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the detained drug trafficker and an investigation is under way.

According to the statistical data from the Interior Ministry, Tajik law enforcement authorities have seized 1,612 kilograms of narcotics, including 142 kilograms of heroin and 267 kilograms of raw opium, over the first four months of this year.  Police reportedly accounted for 50 percent of narcotics seized over the report period.