The fight against drug smuggling remains to be one of the priority areas of the activities of the Uzbek law-enforcement agencies.

The drug situation in the regions bordering Tajikistan is still worrying; as a result of an operation, National Security Service officers have learnt about drug dealers’ plan to smuggle a large batch of drugs.

The operation entered a decisive stage when the drug smugglers with a dangerous load arrived in Tashkent. A Kamaz lorry was stopped near the Qoyliq bazaar. The lorry was loaded with about 13t of persimmons. However, a thorough search of the load proved that the diligent work carried out by counter-intelligence officers was not in vain. There were cardboard sheets at the bottom of 206 boxes. While cutting the sheets, 412 compressed packages containing heroin with a total weight of 235 kg were found.

Soon, the organizer of the drug smuggling, a Tajik national and a member of an influential drug gang in the neighbouring country, was detained. Two residents of [Uzbek southernmost] Surxondaryo Region were also involved in realizing the criminal intentions to smuggle heroin through Uzbekistan. According to the received information, the heroin was brought in several consignments from Tajikistan via mountain passes to the border areas that are hard to control and was kept in the house of one of the accomplices. The drug dealers intended to smuggle the dangerous drugs into Russian towns via railway.

A criminal case has been opened against the detained, and an investigation is under way.