Tajik Authorities Detain Alleged Transnational Drug Ring in Sughd, Seize 6.5 kg of Hashish

Tajik law enforcement officers in Asht district of Sughd province have detained several people alleged to be members of a transnational drug-trafficking group and seized 6.5 kilograms of hashish, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan said. Authorities say preliminary information indicates the narcotics were delivered from Afghanistan for onward smuggling through Tajikistan to another country.

Investigators identified a 53-year-old local resident, Ilmiddin Amonov of Shaydoi jamoat, as the organiser of the transportation operation. The ministry noted that Amonov had previously been convicted of drug-trafficking offences. An Afghan citizen is also alleged to have participated in arranging the delivery of the illegal substances.

Three brothers — Amriddin, Muhiddin and Shahrom Odirmatov — were detained in connection with the case, according to the ministry statement. All named suspects have been placed in a pre-trial detention facility while criminal proceedings have been instituted and investigative work continues.

Officials provided limited detail about the precise roles of each detainee or the intended final destination of the seized narcotics. The ministry said the investigation remains under way and that further procedural steps will be taken in line with Tajik criminal law.

The arrests come amid a nationwide enforcement push reflected in recent statistics released by the Drug Control Agency (DCA). During the first six months of 2026, Tajik law enforcement agencies reported the seizure of 2,963 kilograms of narcotic substances from illegal circulation — about 5% less than during the same period in 2025. Cannabis-related drugs constituted the largest share of seizures, exceeding 1.74 tonnes, while substances from the opium group amounted to nearly 696 kilograms.

Notably, seizures of psychotropic substances rose sharply in the reporting period to 526 kilograms, 3.3 times higher than in the first half of 2025. The DCA said the psychotropic category included methamphetamine, MDMA, alprazolam and pregabalin, with pregabalin accounting for the largest share. Along the Tajik-Afghan border specifically, authorities reported the seizure of 1,513 kilograms of narcotics, 179 kilograms fewer than in the same timeframe last year.

Taken together, the case in Sughd and the national figures underscore continuing law-enforcement focus on narcotics trafficking routes that involve Afghanistan and transit through Tajik territory. While overall seizures fell slightly year-on-year for the first half of 2026, the sharp rise in psychotropic drug interceptions signals a shifting profile of substances trafficked into and through the country.

Authorities have not released further operational details about the Asht district operation or whether cross-border cooperation with Afghan or regional agencies contributed to the arrests and seizure. For now, the detained suspects remain in custody as prosecutors and investigators work to develop the case and determine next steps under Tajikistan’s criminal procedures.