Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbek authorities have seized 45 kilograms of the powerful pharmaceutical substance pregabalin, which was smuggled into the country hidden in laundry detergent packaging. The discovery was reported by the spokesperson for the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan, Khusan Tangriev.

According to him, three individuals who had previously crossed the "Dustlik" checkpoint in Andijan Region under the pretense of carrying personal goods were caught attempting to traffic drugs. They tried to smuggle three 9-kg packs of Ariel laundry detergent that were found to contain pregabalin.

The operation continued in the Akhangaran district, where another suspect was detained with nine detergent packages weighing 27 kg, also containing the substance. Further investigation led officers to a house in the Uchtepa district of Tashkent, where an illegal drug lab was discovered, complete with raw materials and empty capsules used for drug processing.

The following day, another batch of 20 kg of pregabalin was intercepted, again hidden in detergent packages intended for the lab. In total, 16 packs weighing 56 kg were confiscated during the operation, with laboratory analysis confirming that 45 kg of the total was pregabalin.

One kilogram of pregabalin can be processed into approximately 33,000 capsules, meaning the seized amount could have produced nearly 1.5 million capsules—posing a significant threat to public health and contributing to potential criminal activity.

The estimated street value of the confiscated drugs is around 40 billion soums. A criminal case has been initiated.

Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan's customs services have thwarted 86 attempts to smuggle or illegally distribute around 90 kg of powerful pharmaceutical substances.