On 27 February 2023, an official ceremony to hand over Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) for the detection of nuclear and radioactive materials was held at Khujand International Airport. The RPM was handed over by USA Department of Energy for use in preventing terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction, as part of the National Action Plan of the Republic of Tajikistan under UN Security Council Resolution 1540.

The handover ceremony was attended by the General Director of Khujand International Airport - Kurboni Alimardon, Head of the Customs Service Department of Sughd Oblast, Major General - Zafar Mahmadiev, Director of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Safety and Security Agency of the NAST - Ilhom Mirsaidzoda, the representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Farhod Qiyomiddinov, U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration - Kevin Roshdieh, Emily Morley and others.

It should be noted that the purpose of the installation of these Radiation Portal Monitors is to prevent terrorism of weapons of mass destruction and illicit trafficking in nuclear and radioactive materials across the borders of the Republic of Tajikistan. The installation of such equipment at the airport is the next step for the Republic of Tajikistan against terrorism on the use of weapons of mass destruction, their prevention, and illicit trafficking.

In the last few years, similar Radiation Portal Monitors for the detection of nuclear and radioactive materials have been installed by USA Department of Energy at the “Dusti”, “Pyanji Poyon”, “Fotehobod”, “Guliston”, “Sarazm”, and Dushanbe International Airport customs checkpoints. In the framework of this project, USA Department of Energy plans instalation of similar RPMs at Kulob and Bokhtar International Airports. It should also be mentioned that all these donations were from US DOE.

Also, as part of this project, USA Department of Energy plans to provide handheld equipment and training for customs officers in order to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials.