Uzbek Security Forces Seize More Than 30 kg of Drugs in Special Operation in Ferghana Region

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of operational measures carried out by officers of the Ferghana Regional Department of the State Security Service in cooperation with customs authorities and internal affairs bodies, a total of 32 kg of narcotic substances smuggled into Uzbekistan from the Republic of Tajikistan were seized as material evidence.

In one episode, law enforcement officers searched a residential house in the city of Kokand belonging to a man born in 1984 who was involved in drug distribution. In the kitchen area, they discovered and procedurally seized 4 kg 572 g of opium and 1 kg 58 g of hashish.

In addition, using geolocation data sent to him by Tajik drug traffickers via the WhatsApp messenger, officers recovered another 9 kg 980 g of opium from a previously prepared stash located in the Dangara district.

It was also established that a Kokand resident born in 1969, who assisted in processing narcotics and preparing them for use, had organized a drug laboratory in his home. During the search, 7 kg 226 g of opium were seized.

In another case, a Lacetti vehicle driven by a local resident born in 1980 was stopped and inspected in Kokand. The search revealed 5 kg 22 g of opium that had previously been purchased for US$34,000.

As the operation continued, law enforcement officers detained the individual who sold the narcotics, a Kokand resident born in 1985, as well as his accomplice, a citizen of the Republic of Tajikistan born in 1985. An additional 2 kg 362 g of opium were seized from the latter’s house located in the Uzbek district.

Another incident was recorded in Kokand, where officers stopped a Nexia vehicle. During a search conducted in the presence of witnesses, 982 g of hashish were found in a bag belonging to a passenger born in 1992. It was established that the narcotic substance had been taken from a stash previously set up by Tajik drug couriers within the city.

Furthermore, during an operational operation in the city of Ferghana, a citizen born in 2000 was detained at the moment of selling 989 g of hashish smuggled from the Republic of Tajikistan. The narcotics were being sold for 150 million soums.

Criminal cases have been initiated against all individuals involved under Articles 246 and 273 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Preventive measures in the form of detention have been applied. Investigative actions are ongoing.