An operation conducted by Dushanbe police has reportedly led to arrest of a drug ringleader connected to Afghan drug dealers.

The Dushanbe Police Directorate press center says a 60-year-old resident of Hayoti Nav village in Khatlon’s Hamadoni district, Iso Kholmadov, was detained in Dushanbe at the end of last week on suspicion of involvement in drug trafficking.  Four packages of raw opium were confiscated from him.       


Besides, 92.1 kilograms of raw opium have reportedly been extracted from a hidden cache in Hamadoni district. 

In the criminal world, Iso Kholmadov is known by the nickname "Mudir" (Master).  Criminal proceedings have been instituted against him under the provisions of Article 200 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code and an investigation is under way.  If convicted, the drug ringleader could face jail of 12 to 20 years with confiscation of property.