International drug mafia more active on Tajik-Russian thoroughfares

MOSCOW, August 19 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Interior Ministry is concerned over the international drug mafia's growing activity on Russia and Tajik thoroughfares, Interior Minister Rashid Nurgaliyev said Friday.

"Of special concern is the deteriorating criminal situation on transport linking Tajikistan and Russia," Nurgaliyev said at a joint Interior Ministry session.

According to ministry data, in 2004 and the first six months of 2005, more than 100kg of illicit drugs were confiscated in trains, cars and aircraft in Russia. Drug couriers were detained for heroin transportation.

Tajik Interior Minister Khumdin Sharipov said a high yield of raw opium had been gathered in Afghanistan in 2004, which could be "used to produce some 400 metric tons of heroin."

Nurgaliyev said 145,000 people suspected of committing grave crimes and "some 2,000 criminals are being searched for by Tajik law enforcement agencies."