On June 26, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, an event was held in Tashkent where more than 2 tons of narcotic substances were burned in a blast furnace at one of the capital's enterprises.
The ceremony at the Azimut Grand Hotel was attended by representatives of international organizations, including the regional office of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the EU's CADAP-8 program (Central Asia Drug Prevention Program).
The incineration process was broadcast online from the site of the Galperin Tashkent Pipe Plant in the Sergeli district.
According to an interview given by Mahliyo Valiqulova, an officer of the State Security Service (SSS), law enforcement agencies seized and destroyed a total of 2,963 kg of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances through incineration.
The composition of the burned drugs included: 1,348.79 kg of marijuana, 646 kg of hashish, 101.43 kg of poppy straw, 426.35 kg of opium, 78.37 kg of heroin. Additionally, synthetic drugs included 131.37 kg of alpha-PVP, 61.954 kg of mephedrone, and 69.255 kg of pregabalin and other potent substances.
According to the SSS representative, in January-June 2026, a total of 2,304 kg of narcotics were seized from illicit trafficking in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. This includes about 30 kg of heroin, 80 kg of various synthetic drugs, 312 kg of opium, 1,567 kg of hashish, 231 kg of marijuana, and over 300,000 units of potent medicines.
“Recently, there have been many cases of drug smuggling from neighboring Afghanistan, with drug couriers attempting to bring poison into our country hidden in various products, technical items, and vehicles,” said Mahliyo Valiqulova.
She added that during the current year, operational search activities against online drug groups led to the exposure of 6 drug laboratories in Tashkent, Andijan regions, and Tashkent city, with 36.5 kg of synthetic drugs seized.
“There are cases of importing potent medicines from abroad under the guise of various products, packaging them in secret workshops, and selling them online. As a result, 6 secret workshops were exposed, and criminal cases were initiated against their organizers,” she said.
“Currently, the State Security Service, together with foreign partners, is continuing efforts to identify and detain individuals organizing such illegal activities from abroad. In 2025-2026, 19 active operations were carried out in cooperation with the competent authorities of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. As a result, 33 people were detained, and over 506 kg of narcotics were confiscated,” Valiqulova added.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, at a meeting in late January, noted that those responsible for combating drug crime and organized groups lack the determination to reach the true sources of drug channels and sponsors. At that time, it was reported that about 50 members of major drug groups had been detained in Uzbekistan within three months, and half a ton of narcotics had been confiscated.
Source: www.gazeta.uz