Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jan 1999
Source: ITAR-TASS (Russia)
Copyright: 1999 ITAR-TASS.

TAJIKISTAN RAKHMONOV TO SPEAK ON DRUGS PROBLEM.

DUSHANBE,  - Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov
will address the nation on  Friday on the problem of illegal drugs
which has acquired immense scope in the Central Asian republic.

The address is to be made at the conference "Drug-free Tajikistan" in
Dushanbe  which is organised by the state commission on drugs control
and the special UNO  programme. It is to be attended by foreign
ambassadors and international  representatives accredited in Tajikistan.

Tajik drug trafficking poses a serious threat to Russia. Early this
year Moscow  customs confiscated six kilogrammes of heroin which
arrived from Dushanbe to  the Domodedovo airport. Five Tajiks were
detained on suspicion of drug  trafficking. Before new year 800 grams
of heroin were confiscated in the same  Moscow airport.

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