Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 12 November 2024, officers of the State Security Service detained a Lacetti vehicle in Pap District of Namangan Region as part of an operation aimed at curbing drug trafficking.

During the inspection of the vehicle, carried out in the presence of witnesses, a travel bag belonging to one of the passengers — a citizen born in 1984 and resident of Dangara District, Fergana Region — was found to contain 3.887 kilograms of opium and 9.839 kilograms of hashish. The narcotics were seized on the spot.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the detained individual had entered into a criminal conspiracy with a citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan to smuggle narcotics into Uzbekistan and subsequently profit from their distribution. It was established that the batch of drugs had been handed over to him in the Bostanlyk District of Tashkent Region.

Further investigative activities uncovered an additional episode. In August–September 2024, another consignment of drugs was smuggled into Uzbekistan, which the suspect received and hid on a plot of land he owned in the Dangara District. A search of the property led to the discovery of 1.902 kilograms of opium, 857 grams of hashish, a Makarov pistol, two magazines, and 18 rounds of ammunition.

The Criminal Court of Pap District found the defendant guilty under parts 1 and 2 of Article 28,246 and part 5 of Article 25,273 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. He was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment.