Major Drug Laboratory Dismantled in Andijan with Seizure of 26 kg of Mephedrone and 1.5 Tonnes of Precursors

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A large-scale illegal laboratory producing synthetic drugs has been shut down in Andijan, the press service of the State Customs Committee of Uzbekistan reported.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized 26 kilograms of mephedrone and nearly 1.5 tonnes of chemical precursors from illicit circulation.

The covert laboratory was uncovered in a country house in Andijan by a joint оператив task force comprising officers from anti-smuggling units of the Tashkent and Andijan customs administrations, regional departments of the State Security Service, and representatives of the internal affairs bodies.

The investigation began in the Zangiata district of Tashkent, where officers stopped a man who had previously been under surveillance. During a search, 0.13 grams of hashish wrapped in a 2,000-soum banknote were found in his possession.

Based on the detainee’s testimony, operational officers inspected a storage site located along the roadside of the Tashkent ring road. There, they discovered 900 litres of precursors stored in five metal and plastic containers.

Further investigative actions led law enforcement to the Andijan region, where two additional suspects were placed under surveillance. It was established that they had retrieved 100 litres of liquid precursors and 25 kilograms of powdered precursors from concealed caches and transported them to a country house equipped as a drug laboratory.

A search of the premises resulted in the discovery of 26 kilograms of mephedrone, 590 litres of five types of chemical precursors in liquid form, as well as various equipment used for the production of synthetic narcotics.

According to preliminary information, the two suspects, with the assistance of a financial coordinator known by the alias “Simon,” purchased the house for US$15,800 and set up the drug laboratory there, using social media platforms to procure the necessary materials.

Overall, nearly 1.5 tonnes of precursors and chemical substances, along with drug manufacturing equipment, were removed from illegal circulation as a result of the operation.

The investigation is ongoing, and measures are being taken to identify and apprehend all individuals involved.