Tajik Authorities Thwart Border-Crossing By Suspected Drug Traffickers

Tajik border guards have reportedly thwarted another attempt to cross the Afghan-Tajik border by suspected drug traffickers.

Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said on February 8 that two suspected Afghan drug traffickers were killed, two were wounded, and one was captured the previous day.

The incident on February 7 was the third thwarted border-crossing by alleged drug traffickers since February 3.

Earlier this week, Tajik security officials said they killed one alleged drug trafficker and detained four suspects in a shootout along the border.

Tajik officials say at least 20 illegal border crossings by suspected drug traffickers from Afghanistan were prevented in 2012.

Tajikistan is a major conduit for the trafficking of heroin and other drugs from Afghanistan to Russia and Europe.

Based on reporting by AP and Interfax