Drug Lab Dismantled in Tashkent Region, Major Opium Smuggling Prevented

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Law enforcement authorities have dismantled a drug laboratory in Tashkent and the surrounding region, preventing a large-scale opium import, as part of nationwide operational-preventive measures titled “Safe and Healthy Country,” conducted by the State Security Service in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In Yunusabad district of Tashkent city, two individuals were detained: a resident of Yashnabad district, born in 1999 and previously convicted under Article 276 of the Criminal Code, and a resident of Kibray district of Tashkent region, born in 2006.

Authorities seized 507 pregabalin tablets and 52 tropicamide tablets from them. Further inspection of a rented apartment, conducted in the presence of witnesses, uncovered a full-fledged drug laboratory.

Seized items included 4.326 kg of pregabalin in powder form, 200 g of tropicamide, 71 kg of chemical substances used for drug production, as well as vials and capsules for packaging.

According to law enforcement, the suspects had only set up production and had not yet distributed the drugs to the public, preventing approximately 208,000 single doses from entering circulation.

A criminal case has been initiated under Part 5, Article 251, Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, and both suspects were remanded in custody. The law provides for imprisonment of seven to ten years.

In a separate operation in Tashkent region, conducted jointly with the regional customs authority, authorities intercepted an attempt to import a large batch of narcotics from Tajikistan.

At the Bekobod-Auto border customs post, a Cobalt vehicle driven by a resident of Termez district, born in 1968 and previously convicted of drug-related crimes, was stopped for inspection.

More than 30 kg of opium were found in the vehicle’s fuel tank and confiscated. A criminal case has been initiated against the driver under Part 2, Article 246 of the Criminal Code, and he has also been remanded in custody.