DUSHANBE, August 20, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- An operation carried out by officers from the criminal investigation department within the Ministry of Interior (MoI) in Dushanbe on August 19 led to the seizure of a large amount of heroin.

Mahmadullo Asadulloyev, a spokesman for a MoI, told Asia-Plus today that a 39-year-old resident of Khatlon’s Shuroobod district Khouja Dodarakov was detained at the market Dousti in Dushanbe yesterday on suspicion of having been involved in drug trafficking.  14.5 kilograms of heroin were confiscated from him.   

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against Dodarakov and an investigation is under way, the spokesman said.