In Surkhandarya Region, Sariosiyo District, a 1984-born individual working as a teacher at a secondary school was caught red-handed attempting to sell 14 kg 680 g of opium for $180,000 to an undercover buyer. According to the investigation, the narcotics were previously delivered to him by drug couriers from Tajikistan.

A criminal case has been initiated under Part 5 of Article 273 of the Criminal Code, and the suspect has been placed in pre-trial detention. This incident highlights the concerning involvement of education sector personnel in drug trafficking, posing significant societal risks and raising alarms about corruption and security vulnerabilities.

In Syrdarya Region, on the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border, border guards detained two local residents born in 1983 and 1990 while they were receiving six bags thrown over the border fence by drug couriers from Tajikistan. An inspection conducted in the presence of witnesses revealed the bags contained 8 kg 314 g of heroin and 54 kg 458 g of opium.

Criminal cases have been opened against the detainees under Part 2 of Article 246, as well as Parts 5 of Articles 25 and 273 of the Criminal Code, with pre-trial detention imposed as a preventive measure. Operational measures are currently underway to identify other possible participants in the criminal activity.

These two incidents underscore ongoing challenges in combating illegal drug trafficking in Uzbekistan, particularly in border areas and across various professional groups. While law enforcement actions are active, the persistence of large-scale narcotics trade continues to fuel societal concerns and economic costs, indicating deeper systemic issues that remain unaddressed.

Source: kun.uz