Police in Tashkent shut down an underground laboratory that produced drug-containing sweets, cookies and marmalade with added hashish oil, in a rented flat in the Dombrabad mahalla of Chilanzar district, as reported by the Interior Ministry press service.[1] The alleged online distributor detained in the operation is described as a 23-year-old.[1] The operation began when officers detained that 23-year-old in Yashnabad district for placing drug dead drops through Telegram and online shops.[1] Officers found 74 grams of hashish oil on the Yashnabad detainee.[1] On the basis of his testimony and operational work, officers identified the wholesale supplier and his laboratory in Chilanzar district.[1]
In the flat officers found and seized about 6 kilograms of hashish and its oils, described as more than 19,200 drug doses.[1] The detailed inventory lists 3.5 kg of hashish oil, 350 grams prepared for sale in 361 separate wraps, mixtures of hashish and hashish oil, and 600 grams of pure hashish.[1] The laboratory also held cookies baked using 1.5 kg of hashish oil and four packs of hashish marmalade.[1] As physical evidence officers seized medical syringes, electronic scales, zip bags, tape and 500 empty vials used for dosing and packing drugs.[1]
A criminal case was opened under point (a) of part 6 of Article 273 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code for illegal large-scale manufacture and sale for the purpose of sale.[1] Conviction under that provision carries up to 20 years’ imprisonment, and investigators continue work to identify other network members.[1]
