Tajik law-enforcement and security bodies announced the arrest of seven alleged members of two transnational drug groups.[1] The Interior Ministry reported five alleged dealers in its MVD News programme aired on 11 March, naming 39-year-old Hamadoni resident Gholibjon Ganiev as leader who had previously received a seven-year sentence.[1] The other four were named as 52-year-old Rasht residents Mahmadroib Asrorov and Hakimjon Mahmadjonov and 31-year-old Firouz Mirzoyev and 41-year-old Mukhtor Rajabov from Hamadoni, all previously convicted for drugs.[2] The State Committee for National Security separately reported the arrest of two smugglers, one an Afghan citizen.[1] Those two were identified as Tajik citizen Oyatullo Odinaev and Afghan citizen Mubaraksho Shaidullo, cooperating in smuggling since 2023.[1]
The seven are suspected of smuggling about 100 kilograms of hashish, opium and methamphetamine from Afghanistan into Tajikistan for sale inside the country and abroad.[2] According to investigators, the first group sold hashish, opium and methamphetamine in Dushanbe and Rasht district.[1] Authorities allege the suspects brought drugs from Afghanistan to Rasht district and Dushanbe, then hid them for onward export.[1] In November 2025 in two stages they received 80 parcels with hashish, opium and methamphetamine through an Afghan national named Yusuf.[1] Together with group member Firouz Mirzoyev they hid 41 parcels in Mir Said Ali Hamadoni and the rest in Shohmansur, according to the Interior Ministry.[1] Authorities seized 20 kilograms of drugs from the two detained in the second case.[1] In February 2026 Odinaev and Shaidullo bought 20 packets of hashish and moved them to Vahdat for sale.[1]
A criminal case was opened against the detainees under Article 200 Part 4 Subparagraph e of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code for especially large trafficking of narcotics or psychotropic substances.[1] That offence carries 12 to 20 years in prison.[1] Ganiev is shown admitting drug dealing on a video released by the authorities, obtained under unclear circumstances.[1] Both Vahdat suspects admitted guilt in the official account, with the circumstances of those statements unspecified, while the other suspects’ positions are unknown.[1]
