Tajik authorities have dealt a significant blow to Afghan drug trafficking after seizing a large cache of illegal narcotics near the Afghanistan border. Officials reported that the haul included 30 kg of opium, 19 kg of hashish, and 9 kg of heroin. The seizure highlights how Afghan narcotics trade continues to threaten neighboring states despite repeated claims of crackdowns.
The drugs were confiscated in the Shamsiddin Shohin district during a border operation, which also led to the arrest of two Tajik men, aged 57 and 55. Authorities said the suspects were planning to transport the drugs to the capital, Dushanbe, before sending them through wider Central Asia drug routes.
Officials confirmed that the narcotics originated from Afghanistan, pointing to longstanding patterns of Afghanistan drug smuggling that exploit unstable border regions. The two detainees have been referred to court and face up to 20 years in prison under Tajik law for drug trafficking.
This is not an isolated incident. In nearby border areas, authorities recently arrested an Afghan man carrying 46 packages of illegal drugs. Tajik officials warn that Afghan drug trafficking is on the rise. Last year, nearly three tonnes of narcotics were seized along the Afghan border, marking a nearly 50% increase from the previous year.
Despite public announcements from Afghan authorities claiming a reduction in poppy cultivation and drug production, reports show that heroin and opium continue to flow into Central Asia, South Asia, and beyond, fueling addiction, crime, and regional instability.
Tajik authorities emphasize that the recent seizures are part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal narcotics. However, Afghan drug trafficking remains a persistent threat to security and public safety in the region.
