Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Recently, the Customs Committee and the State Security Service at the customs post for foreign economic activity "Aviayuklar" of the specialized customs complex "Tashkent-Aero" subjected 1000 bags of edible poppy seeds with a total weight of 25 tons to customs inspection in the prescribed manner. 

Bags of seeds brought to our republic from abroad by air were planned to be transported in transit through the territory of our republic using a cargo vehicle. This was reported by the press service of the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan.

Food poppy and opium poppy are different varieties of poppy plants. Edible poppy, also known as ordinary decorative poppy, although similar to its opium counterpart, is used in the food industry to obtain seeds that are used in cooking.

However, during the customs inspection it turned out that in the bags, among 25 tons of seeds, which were declared in the documents as poppy food confectionery, poppy straw weighing 8.5 tons, containing narcotic active opium alkaloids, was hidden from customs control.

According to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 12 November 2015 No. 330 “On improving the procedure for import, export and transit through the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors, as well as control over their circulation,” dried poppy straw is a narcotic drug, the circulation of which prohibited in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Currently, the customs authorities have opened a criminal case regarding this fact.

It is worth noting that in the last 30-year history of the customs service of Uzbekistan, the discovery of such a large batch of drugs in one case was recorded for the first time.