DUSHANBE, June 10, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Uzbek officials have said that an armed Tajik border guard was arrested in Uzbekistan''s Surkhandarya region on June 7, Radio Liberty’s Tajik Service reports.

A statement issued by Uzbekistan''s National Security Service on June 9 says the Tajik guard tried to cross the border illegally near the Uzbek village of Labiob.

It added that he took possession of the Uzbek border guards'' weapons and then offered to return them for money.

An official at Tajikistan''s State Committee for National Security confirmed to RFE/RL that the Uzbek authorities detained the Tajik border guard, whose name was not given, on Uzbek territory.

The official said the incident is being investigated.