Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s customs authorities have prevented the illegal import of 13.08 kg of hash oil from Thailand. Two Uzbek citizens were detained as part of the operation. The Customs Committee of Uzbekistan reported this.
The operation was conducted by officers of the operational units of the Tashkent-Aero specialized customs complex and the Tashkent International Airport customs post, jointly with the State Security Service.
On 5 September, a 51-year-old Uzbek citizen arriving on a flight from Thailand passed through customs control. During an inspection of his luggage, officers noticed three wine bottles and packages containing spices.
The substances were sent to the Central Customs Laboratory for examination. The analysis showed that the containers held a dark brown substance with a strong odor containing tetrahydrocannabinol. It was identified as hash oil, the circulation of which is prohibited in Uzbekistan. The total weight was 7 kg 580 grams.
Operational measures established that the man was supposed to deliver the drugs to Samarkand for US$1,800 on instructions from a handler using the pseudonym “Absolut” and operating through Telegram.
The operation continued in Samarkand, where a 47-year-old citizen who was receiving the drugs was detained. During an inspection of his home in the presence of witnesses, officers found hash oil concealed in wine bottles, containers previously used for dishwashing liquid and syringes. Dried mushrooms whose consumption causes a state of intoxication were also found.
The total weight of the two types of narcotic substances discovered was about 5.5 kg. According to customs authorities, the detainee was supposed to subsequently distribute the drugs at addresses provided as links on the instructions of the handler of the Telegram account “Right Ktrel.”
As a result of the multi-stage operation, the illegal circulation of 13 kg 80 grams of hash oil was prevented.
According to specialists, this quantity of narcotic substance could have been enough to involve about 200,000 people in drug use. The Customs Committee also estimated the potential black-market value of the seized substances at more than US$1.7 million after their sale to end consumers.
The customs authorities have opened a criminal case over the incident.
