Tajik major drug dealer Nourullo Rahimov, known in the criminal world as “Kaftarboz” (pigeon breeder), has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for smuggling and selling more than 13 kilograms of narcotic drugs, Drug Control Agency (DCA) Director Habibullo Vohidzoda told reporters in Dushanbe on August 5.  

According to him, Rahimov’s accomplices have also got lengthy jail terms: two of them – citizens of Tajikistan – have bene sentenced to 16 years in prison each and one Afghan national has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.  

In March this year, Tajik law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of several members of the organized criminal group.  The ringleader is the 50-year-old resident of Dushanbe Nourullo Rahimov and the group members included Tajik nationals Saadi Soqiyev, Bahrullo Minbayev (he has a criminal record for murder) and Asroriddin Zhobbirov (he has a criminal record for drug trafficking) as well as Afghan national Rasoul Kabir, who was temporarily residing in Dushanbe.

Tajik drug control kingpin noted at a news conference on August 5 that one of members of those organized criminal group  has been on the international wanted list.  

According to DCA director, Makarov pistol was confiscated from Nourullo Rahimov.  

Vohidzoda also noted that 26 criminal groups (totaling 47 people) and three organized criminal groups (totaling six people) had been broken up over the first six months of this year.