The deputy chief of the Tashkent city police, Doniyor Tashxojaev, said on December 13 that influential crime boss Salim Abduvaliev (aka Salimboi), who was arrested recently during a series of raids against organized crime, faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of illegal possession and transportation of arms and explosives. The 73-year-old Abduvaliev is believed to have ties with top Uzbek officials and leaders of the so-called Brothers' Circle, a Eurasian drug-trafficking network that included late Kyrgyz kingpin Kamchybek Kolbaev (aka Kamchybek Asanbek), who was killed during a police operation in Bishkek in October. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, click here.
