Tajikistan’s Supreme Court sentenced two Afghan nationals to 24 years in prison each for drug trafficking.[1] The sentencing account names them as Khairiddin valadi Sulaymon and Nazir valadi Imonazar.[1] A Russian account of the verdict gives variant transliterations of the same surnames and calls them residents of Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province bordering Tajikistan.[2] The presiding judge, Anwar Ahmadov, said they were found guilty of illegal border crossing to smuggle a large drug consignment and illegal possession of weapons.[2] Border guards arrested the pair on 24 December 2008 in the border village of Porvor in Shuroobod district.[3] Criminal proceedings were then instituted against them while an investigation continued.[3]

Officers confiscated about 84 kilograms of narcotics, including about 30 kilograms of cannabis, 48 kilograms of hashish and six kilograms of heroin, as well as weapons.[1] This report records 78 kilograms as the cannabis component, combining the stated cannabis and hashish, and excludes the heroin and the combined total from cannabis figures.[1] The initial arrest account had reported more than 100 kilograms of drugs and two Kalashnikov sub-machine guns seized.[3] A Russian account of the sentence reported about 84 kilograms including six kilograms of heroin, two Kalashnikov rifles, 10 magazines and 300 cartridges.[2]

The main border directorate within the State Committee for National Security (GKNB), Tajikistan’s security service, said the operation was carried out by border guards in Khatlon’s Shuroobod district.[3] Its spokesman Khoushnoud Rahmatulloyev said a preliminary investigation found the two were involved in drug trafficking and kidnapping Tajik nationals to clear debts.[3] He said the arrest of the men would promote stabilization in the region.[3] Shuroobod is described as the most vulnerable part of Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan.[3]