Kyrgyz police officer detained for selling weapons to terrorists
BISHKEK. Jan 22 (Interfax) - Kyrgyz security service officers in the country's southern region have detained a police major, who is accused of selling weapons and ammunition to members of a terrorist group, the press service of Kyrgyzstan's National Security Committee told Interfax on Thursday.
"On January 17, in the city of Jalal-Abad in the country's south, a police officer holding the rank of major was detained. He was responsible for storing, handing over and keeping records of this Interior Ministry unit's weapons," the press service said.
"The detained man was engaged in the selling of automatic weapons, pistols and ammunition to members of a terrorist organization," it said.
Part of the sold ammunition was found and seized by Kyrgyz security service officers from a terrorist group member, who had recently returned from the hostilities area in Syria, in one of the villages in the Jalal-Abad region.
Law enforcement agencies told Interfax earlier, that a grenade launcher with a round and 6,000 5.45mm and 7.62mm cartridges had been confiscated during a search. Their owner testified that he had bought these weapons and ammunition from a police major responsible for his unit's arsenal.
The detained policeman has been remanded into custody. An investigation continues.