Head of the Anti-Drug Agency in Khatlon Detained

He is accused of large-scale fraud.

Photo: Internet

Colonel Nodir Murodzoda, head of the drug control agency under the President of Tajikistan in the Khatlon region, was detained on February 10 along with four of his subordinates on charges of “fraud.” It is reported that they were detained by the State National Security Committee of Tajikistan.

The authorities have not yet officially reported on the incident. It is reported that Colonel Murodzoda is accused of official forgery in the case of a suspect in drug trafficking and receiving a bribe of more than 150,000 somoni. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 247, Part 4 (large-scale fraud) of the Criminal Code of Tajikistan.

The opinion of Murodzoda himself and his relatives is currently unavailable.

Radio Ozodi, citing its sources in the investigative authorities, reports that “a group of agency employees under the leadership of Nodir Murodzoda, in cooperation with the Khatlon staff of the State National Security Committee, detained a suspect in drug trafficking. Murodzoda took over the investigation of his case, but, despite the existing evidence, tried to divert him from criminal liability or mitigate the charges.”

This article of the criminal code provides for a fine ranging from 94,000 somoni to 140,000 somoni or imprisonment for a term of eight to twelve years.

Currently, Nodir Murodzoda is being held in the detention center of the State National Security Committee in Dushanbe.

The investigation is being conducted by employees of the State National Security Committee and the General Prosecutor’s Office.

This is not the first case in which an official in Tajikistan has been detained on charges of fraud and corruption. However, in most cases, they are released from liability after paying a fine or through the mediation of acquaintances.