Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — More than 3.6kg of drugs, including hashish, the synthetic drug Spice, opium and marijuana, have been seized during operations in four regions of Uzbekistan, the country’s State Security Service reported.
In Gulistan, officers from the State Security Service department for Syrdarya Region, together with representatives of the regional internal affairs and customs departments, searched a rented property occupied by a man and a woman born in 1996 and 1998. According to the agency, they worked as drug couriers and packers for an online drug store.
A total of 337g of hashish was found inside a heating appliance. Another 208g of the substance, divided into 65 small packages, was discovered at a second address rented by the suspects and used as a storage facility. The total amount of hashish seized was 545g.
In Navoi Region, officers from the State Security Service, internal affairs bodies and the National Guard detained three people in Karmana district who were distributing drugs through hidden drop-off locations.
They were found with 20g of the synthetic drug Spice. Further operational measures led to the discovery of another 542g of the substance in several hiding places. The total seizure amounted to 562g.
In Samarkand, officers from the State Security Service department for Navoi Region, together with internal affairs personnel, identified an employee of a poultry meat shop who was storing 492g of opium divided into small portions. According to the agency, the drugs were intended for further sale.
In Turtkul district of Karakalpakstan, a local resident born in 1972 was detained. An inspection of a bag he was carrying revealed 471g of marijuana.
Officers from the State Security Service, internal affairs bodies and the National Guard subsequently searched a car belonging to his alleged accomplice, a previously convicted man born in 1964. They found another 425g of marijuana in the vehicle. At his home, they seized 97 matchboxes containing the substance, with a total weight of 1.175kg.
Criminal cases have been opened in connection with all four incidents, and investigative proceedings are under way.
