DUSHANBE, September 23, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Representatives from Russia’s Interior Ministry will arrive in Tajikistan next week to discuss joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, Tajik Interior Ministry’s press center reports.

The source says a joint board meeting of the ministries of interior (MoIs) of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation that took place in Orenburg, Russia on September 22 discussed interaction between Russia and Tajik police in detaining criminals, carrying out joint operations to prevent drug smuggling and countering illegal migrations.

The meeting participants reportedly agreed that representatives of Russian police would arrive in Dushanbe next week to discuss issues related to carrying out joint operations to discover and shut down channels through which Afghan  narcotics are being smuggled via Tajikistan into the Russian Federation.

According to the statistical data from Tajikistan’s Interior Ministry, Tajik and Russian police have carried out joint operations, dubbed Search and Illegal Immigrant over the first eight months of this year.  44 persons wanted for perpetration of various crimes in Tajikistan have been detained in Russia and extradited to Tajikistan over the report period.

Since the beginning of this year, Tajik and Russian police have reportedly carried out two special operations, “checked deliveries [of drugs].”  The operations have resulted in seizure of some 12 kilograms of Afghan heroin.