The State Security Service of Uzbekistan has successfully intercepted multiple attempts to smuggle narcotics into the country. Through vigilant surveillance and proactive measures, law enforcement officials in Samarkand, Namangan, and Fergana regions have thwarted several illicit operations, leading to the arrest of multiple individuals involved in drug trafficking, press service of the State Security Service reported on February 21.
Further a vehicle inspection in the Jambay district revealed two passengers transporting 1.6 kilograms of opium from Samarkand to Tashkent. Both individuals, aged 31 and 28, hailing from the Urgut region, were promptly detained, preventing the distribution of the contraband within the country.
In a separate incident in the Namangan region, patrol officers intercepted a Nexia car en route from Tashkent to Fergana. During the inspection, an officer observed a passenger discarding a package, which upon examination, was found to contain 1.9 kilograms of hashish. The swift action of law enforcement personnel thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics across regional boundaries.
Moreover, in the Altyaryk district of the Fergana region, a 34-year-old individual with a prior history of drug-related offenses was apprehended while attempting to sell 770 grams of hashish for $7,000. Further investigation revealed that the narcotics were imported from Kyrgyzstan, leading to the identification and subsequent detention of the primary perpetrator.
Uzbekistan remains a crucial transit point for the trafficking of heroin, opium, hashish, and marijuana, owing to its strategic location and extensive borders with Central Asian countries. With an 85-mile border shared with Afghanistan and numerous crossing points, Uzbekistan provides traffickers with ample opportunities to evade detection, utilizing vast stretches of open desert and rugged mountain terrain. The neighboring countries of Afghanistan and Tajikistan serve as primary conduits for smuggling narcotics into Uzbekistan. The northern route through Uzbekistan offers both direct and indirect pathways for narcotics originating in Afghanistan to reach final markets in Russia and Europe.
Earlier Daryo reported that Kazakhstan holds the 8th position in the global drug consumption ranking, while Uzbekistan is placed at 95th. Other rankings for Central Asian countries are as follows:
- Kyrgyzstan: 23rd
- Turkmenistan: 41st
- Tajikistan: 76th
Remarkably, Afghanistan, responsible for 80% of the world's opium production in 2022, ranks 170th.
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