United States continues assisting Tajikistan with implementation of anti-drug projects

DUSHANBE, May 23, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Rustam Nazarov, Director of the Drug Control Agency (DCA) under the President of Tajikistan, met here at the end of last week with Dave Kostelancik, Director, Office of Europe and Asia, U.S. Department of State’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), and persons accompanying him, the DCA press center reports.

In the course of the talks, Tajik drug control chief reportedly briefed the U.S. delegation on measures taken by the Government of Tajikistan to combat drug trafficking, current drug situation in Tajikistan, Afghanistan and the region as a whole, as well as organizing interaction between Tajik law enforcement authorities and their colleagues from foreign countries, including the Drug enforcement Agency (DEA) under the United States Department of Justice, in combating drug trafficking.

Tajik drug control chief noted that Tajikistan have taken great efforts to combat drug trafficking and noted that all narcotic drug seized in Tajikistan were produced in Afghanistan (heroin, raw opium and cannabis).

Mr. Kostelancik, for his part, highly appraised work of Tajik law enforcement authorities in combating drug trafficking and noted the United States Government would continue providing assistance to Tajikistan with implementation of anti-drug projects and programs, the source said.