DUSHANBE, March 10, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Officers from the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan have prevented an attempt of smuggling a large amount of Afghan hashish into Uzbekistan.

According to the DCA press service, more than 33 kilograms of hashish were found hidden in a car belonging to Tursunzoda resident on March 9.  The driver and his passenger were detained on suspicion of drug peddling.

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against the detained drug peddlers under the provisions of Article 200 (4) of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – storage of narcotic drugs on a large scale; an investigation is under way.

Over the first two months of this year alone, Tajik law enforcement agencies have seized 1,023 kilograms of drugs, which is 63.1 percent more than in the same period last year, the source said.