More than 4 kg of heroin has been seized in an operation carried out by Uzbek police in cooperation with the country’s security service, Uzbek TV reported on 10 August.

"As a result of an operation carried out by National Security Service officers in Tashkent city’s Mirobod district, Umid Mamatqulov, a resident of Surxondaryo Region (southern Uzbekistan), has been caught red-handed with material evidence. When a packet belonging to him was examined in the presence of witnesses, more than 1 kg of heroin was found in it. An investigation has established that this drug was brought in from Tajikistan," the report said.

The report also said that a resident of Tashkent District, identified as Hasan Yefimov, had been detained on suspicion of attempting to smuggle 4 kg of heroin to Kazakhstan. He was detained in an operation carried out jointly by officers of the Interior Ministry and the National Security Service, the report said.

A criminal case has been opened, and an investigation is under way, the report added.