Uzbekistan’s State Security Service said it broke up three attempts to distribute large consignments of drugs in Tashkent, Samarkand and Namangan regions, and that the drugs were brought in from Tajikistan and Afghanistan.[1] In Urgut district of Samarkand region, which borders Tajikistan’s Pendzhikent district, officers stopped a group of six Uzbek citizens and one Tajik citizen accused of drug smuggling.[1] The Urgut group was held with 11 kg 502 g of opium brought from the neighbouring country, along with 2,600 dollars, 12.69 million soum and 850 somoni.[1] The service said the people detained in Urgut meant to sell the drugs inside Uzbekistan.[1]

In Yangiyul district of Tashkent region, officers searching the luggage of a 39-year-old Kazakh citizen found 46 kg 738 g of hashish.[1] Two other people were detained with him, a 48-year-old Tajik citizen and a 60-year-old Uzbek citizen who was driving.[1] Investigators said the Yangiyul hashish had been smuggled in from Afghanistan.[1]

At a road-patrol post in Pap district of Namangan region, officers searched a Jentra car travelling from Tashkent towards Fergana and found 19 kg 885 g of hashish with two brothers from Margilan inside.[1] A third Margilan resident, 26, who was waiting for the two brothers in another car was detained as well.[1] A pre-investigation check established that the brothers were carrying drugs left by Tajik couriers at a hiding place in Okhangaron district of Tashkent region.[1]

Criminal cases were opened in all three episodes on smuggling and drug-trafficking charges, and the suspects were remanded in custody.[1] Sputnik Tajikistan reported that State Security Service officers and customs officers together detained members of an organised crime group with the drugs, and put the opium and hashish at 78 kg in total.[2] The same outlet said the group was detained in Urgut district of Samarkand region, on the Tajik border.[2]