Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Four people have been detained in Chirchiq, Tashkent Region, on suspicion of organizing a drug laboratory and producing narcotics, the State Security Service of Uzbekistan said.
The operation was carried out by officers of the Tashkent Region department of the State Security Service together with representatives of the regional Department of Internal Affairs.
According to the agency, the suspects rented an apartment in one of Chirchiq’s multi-storey residential buildings and used it to produce and distribute narcotics.
Preliminary information indicates that the suspects, born in 2000 and 2002, processed hash oil and semi-finished materials allegedly smuggled into Uzbekistan by foreign handlers via Telegram before producing hashish.
During a search of the apartment, officers found about 400 grams of hashish and 5 kg of semi-finished material. An electric oven used to dry narcotic substances, a mixer, gloves, protective equipment, scales and plastic containers were also seized as material evidence.
A pre-investigation inquiry found that one of the suspects had previously produced narcotics under laboratory conditions in Russia, while two others had done so in Vietnam and Thailand.
A criminal case has been opened under paragraphs “a” and “b” of Part 3 of Article 276¹ of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan.
Investigative proceedings are underway.
