The detained man, an Uzbek national with previous convictions, told police he was due to receive US$100 from his Tajik accomplices for each packet of heroin he delivered to Kazakhstan, the police spokesperson said.

"During the operation in one of Tashkent’s region the offender was found in possession of 17 packets containing a white powdery substance. A quick analysis indicated that the substance was heroin with a total weight of 15.375 kgs," the press spokesperson said.

He added that a criminal case had been launched and an operation to locate the courier’s accomplices was underway.