Uzbekistan Seizes Major Smuggling of Strong Drugs

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan’s State Security Service border troops have foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of potent pharmaceutical drugs on the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border in the Ferghana region.

During operational and preventive measures, servicemen discovered three unclaimed sacks in the border area. According to preliminary data, the sacks were transported from a neighboring country and left behind by unidentified individuals. The shipment contained 30,660 units of the drug “Regapen” and 925 bottles of “Tropicamide.”

The total value of the seized consignment is estimated at 3.297 billion soums. Authorities said the case involves potent medicines whose illegal circulation is prohibited under national law.

A criminal case has been opened under Part 1 of Article 246 (smuggling) and Part 5 of Article 251-1 (illegal circulation of potent or poisonous substances) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan.

Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting operational measures to identify those involved in organizing the illegal supply channel and attempting to move the cargo across the border.