Uzbek Authorities Seize 33,400 Units of Illicit Drugs in Tashkent Sweep

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A coordinated crackdown by the State Security Service (SSS) and internal affairs agencies has resulted in the seizure of over 33,000 units of potent illicit medications across the Tashkent region and the capital.

In a primary operation conducted in the Zangiata district, security forces apprehended a 30-year-old suspect and a 27-year-old accomplice from Samarkand. The initial sweep uncovered 8,400 units of "Regapen," a controlled substance frequently diverted for non-medical use. Following the arrests, a raid on a temporary warehouse in the Chilanzar district led to the discovery of an additional 12,600 units of the same drug.

The warehouse search also exposed a clandestine manufacturing operation. Authorities confiscated 10,000 units of counterfeit medications of unknown origin, 500 packaging containers, and a specialized mini-printer used for fraudulent labeling. All equipment and substances were seized as material evidence.

In a separate sting operation, Tashkent city SSS officers, working alongside customs and police units, detained a 32-year-old individual during a transaction involving the sale of "Zardex" capsules for 600,000 soums. The investigation quickly expanded to a previously convicted 39-year-old resident of Namangan, identified as the primary supplier. A search of his vehicle yielded 12,400 units of "Zardex" and 14 units of "Regapen."

Law enforcement agencies have initiated criminal proceedings in both cases, with active investigations ongoing to map out the wider distribution network.

Authorities are urging the public to report any information regarding the illegal trafficking of narcotics or potent pharmaceuticals by contacting the State Security Service via the short code 1520. Officials have guaranteed the strict confidentiality of all informants.