TAJIKISTAN: TWO TAJIK DCA OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000307

SIPDIS

DEA HQS FOR OGE MONACO AND VASQUEZ
DEA HQS FOR SARI
STATE FOR INL AND G/TIP
ANKARA FOR DEA RD DESTITO
ISLAMABAD FOR DEA ARD DUDLEY
KABUL FOR DEA A/CA FITZGERALD
MOSCOW FOR DEA CA JONES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: TWO TAJIK DCA OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED IN THE
SHURABAD DISTRICT OF TAJIKISTAN INCIDENT TO AN UNDERCOVER MEETING
NEAR THE TAJIK-AFGHAN BORDER ON FEBRUARY 27, 2009. GFUI-09-9322;

CCX: GFAN-05-8001

GFUI-09-9123





SYNOPSIS

--------------


1. (SBU) On March 10, 2009, the acting head of the Tajik Drug
Control Agency's (DCA) operational department provided a written
report to the DEA Dushanbe Country Office regarding the Tajik
DCA/Tajik Border Guard joint investigation and the events
occurring on February 27-28, 2009.




2. (SBU) The report related that during the month of February
2009, DCA officers, assigned to the inter-regional section of
the Khatlon sub-office located in the Kulyab district, received
information that a group of four to six armed-Afghan narcotics
traffickers intended to sell significant amounts of illicit
drugs to unidentified Tajik nationals in the Shurabad District
of Tajikistan.




3. (SBU) Attempting to exploit this information, the Tajik DCA
prepared a joint operational plan with the Tajik Border Guards
of the State Committee on National Security. An undercover DCA
officer was subsequently introduced as a purchaser of narcotics
to the Afghan traffickers, two of whom were partially identified
as "Said" LNU and "Juma" LNU.




4. (SBU) On February 27, 2009, at approximately 11pm, between
the villages of Sarimargzor and Anjirob, Shurabad District (in
an area located approximately one kilometer north of the
Tajik-Afghan border),an undercover meeting took place. The
operation went awry, and a skirmish ensued between the armed
group of Afghan traffickers and six Tajik DCA officers and
Border Guards. Two Tajik DCA officers were shot and killed.
They were identified as Captain Abdushukur Karimovich Olimov
(DOB: 04/09/1969) and Lieutenant Umedjon Sadulloevich Barotov
(DOB: 07/04/1976). Three Tajik Border Guard officers were
severely wounded. They were identified as Lieutenant Colonel
D.R. Mahmudov, Warrant Officer K.I. Manonov and Warrant Officer
R.H. Surhov. It is unknown if any of the Afghan traffickers
were wounded.




5. (SBU) After the skirmish ended, an inspection of the
surrounding area yielded approximately 52.5 kilograms of
marijuana and 12.773 kilograms of raw opium. Both drug
quantities were seized by the Tajik DCA.




6. (SBU) Information which was previously provided by other
Tajik DCA sources indicated that the Afghan traffickers were
carrying AK-47's and an RPG, and the Tajik DCA officers were
only armed with Makarov handguns.




7. (SBU) Other sources claimed that the Tajiks were severely
outgunned with as many as thirty Afghan traffickers present, but
now it appears likely that this was an exaggeration initially
offered to serve as an explanation for the trouncing.




8. (SBU) This cable was prepared by A/CA Paul Hackett in lieu
of a DEA-6, pursuant to section 6242.11 of the DEA Agent's

DUSHANBE 00000307 002 OF 002


Manual. Please direct any questions to A/CA Paul Hackett at
cellular telephone number 992-90-700-7095. Dushanbe is nine (9)
hours ahead of Eastern Time.



INDEXING SECTION


1. None
JACOBSON