In a swift operation, the State Security Service of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with Border Guards and military personnel from Tashkent-Aero IBK, uncovered an illegal mining tunnel in the Tashkent region near the Kazakhstan border. This tunnel was used by a cross-border criminal group to smuggle a significant quantity of unguaranteed quality drugs from India to Uzbekistan through Kazakhstan, amounting to over UZS1bn (nearly $100,000), Uzbekistan's State Security Service reports.
The drugs were transported by the criminal group via the "Delhi-Tashkent-Almaota" air route to the international airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan. From there, they were delivered to the "Dostlik" settlement in the Saryogoch district of Turkestan region, Kazakhstan. The drugs were then smuggled through a secret tunnel into the "Orikzor" area in the Tashkent district of Uzbekistan.
During the operation, authorities seized drugs valued at close to UZS1.1bn (roughly $100,000), including 17,048 units of 107 different drug types, such as Albumin, Remdesivir, and Meropenem, all produced in India.
The tunnel, constructed in 1975, connects a house in the "Orikzor" neighborhood of Tashkent district with the "Dostlik" settlement in Kazakhstan. The tunnel stretches 310 meters and is equipped with air ventilation, a lighting system, and carts and ropes for transporting cargo.
A criminal case has been initiated against the members of the criminal group under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code, and the suspects have been placed under preventive detention. This significant bust highlights the ongoing efforts of Uzbek authorities to combat illegal drug trafficking and secure the nation's borders.
Earlier it was reported that Uzbekistan's law enforcement agencies destroyed over 2.15 tons of illicit drugs on June 26 in Tashkent's Yangikhayot district. The substances included heroin, opium, hashish, marijuana, cannabis, cocaine, and various synthetic drugs, all incinerated in a specially designed oven. In 2023, Uzbekistan seized 9.2 tons of narcotic drugs, with significant investments in advanced technologies and the National Canine Center aiding in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking.
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