Pubdate: Fri, 6 Aug 2004 Source: BBC News (UK Web) Copyright: 2004 BBC Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.) TAJIK DRUG TSAR HELD 'FOR GRAFT' The Tajik general in charge of battling the drugs trade has been arrested amid claims of murder and corruption. Ghaffor Mirzoyev is being held in the capital Dushanbe while inquiries go on. He is accused of involvement in a murder, hoarding weapons including an anti-aircraft missile, and cheating the state out of a helicopter contract. Correspondents say he is one of the most powerful people in Tajikistan and had also been set to go to Athens as head of the national Olympic committee. 'Cell Arsenal' Tajik Prosecutor General Bobojon Bobokhonov said no charges had yet been laid against Lt Gen Mirzoyev. But he catalogued accusations against the head of the UN-backed Drug Control Agency, saying he was being investigated for any involvement in the killing of a police official in 1998. Mr Bobokhonov said more than 3,000 weapons, including pistols, automatic rifles and grenades, were found in holding cells for prisoners at the drug agency and that an anti-aircraft missile had also been recovered at a farm owned by Gen Mirzoyev. The drug tsar also allegedly imported a helicopter illegally from Russia which he then sent to Afghanistan to be used instead of a state-owned aircraft for a $650,000 contract. "He used his own helicopter and pocketed the money," the prosecutor said. Officials say they expect to charge Gen Mirzoyev within 10 days. Crucial Role Gen Mirzoyev is a former head of the presidential guard who was a prominent military commander during Tajikistan's five-year civil war in the 1990s. He was moved to head the anti-drug agency earlier this year in a reshuffle of top officials seen as part of efforts by President Emomali Rahmonov to consolidate his power base and eliminate potential rivals. Observers had anticipated trouble, but the BBC's Clare Doyle says the general appeared satisfied with his new job and his second official position as head of the country's Olympic committee. Tajikistan's Drug Control Agency is seen as having a crucial role in trying to tackling the booming regional drug market centred in neighbouring Afghanistan. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake