In observance of the International Day against Drug Addiction and Illicit Drug Trafficking, law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan destroyed more than 2.15 tons of drugs on June 26. The Customs Committee of Uzbekistan reported that this event took place in an industrial zone in the Yangikhayot district of Tashkent.
The destroyed substances included:
- 37.6 kg of heroin
- 184.7 kg of opium
- 413.8 kg of hashish
- 28.58 g of poppy heads
- 95.9 kg of poppy straw
- 11.3 kg of poppy seeds
- 424.7 kg of marijuana
- 961.4 kg of cannabis
- 18.73 g of cannabis oil
- 347.85 g of tetrahydrocannabinol
- 6.48 g of cocaine
- Various psychotropic and psychoactive substances
- Synthetic drugs
These drugs were incinerated in a specially designed oven to ensure their complete destruction.
In 2023, Uzbekistan's customs authorities seized a total of 9.2 tons of narcotic drugs, 17.7 thousand units of psychotropic drugs, 827.3 grams of precursors, as well as 197.6 thousand units of drugs and 109.2 kg of potent substances with restricted circulation. A vital portion of these seizures included a record batch of poppy straw. In September 2023, authorities at the Tashkent-Aero customs post intercepted 25 tons of cargo labeled as confectionery poppy, which contained 8.5 tons of poppy straw, a narcotic substance. This marked the largest drug seizure in the 30-year history of Uzbekistan's customs service.
Uzbekistan has invested in advanced technologies to combat drug trafficking. Border customs posts are now equipped with 23 inspection systems, 15 human body scanners, 202 X-ray machines, and other detection tools. These enhancements are part of a broader effort to intercept and prevent the smuggling of narcotics.
The National Canine Center of the Customs Committee plays a crucial role in drug interdiction efforts. The center trains dog handlers and service dogs specifically for detecting narcotic drugs, potent and psychotropic substances. The use of trained dogs has proven to be an effective measure in the fight against drug trafficking.
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