Law enforcement agencies in Tashkent's Bektemir district have intercepted a sophisticated drug trafficking attempt, arresting a 56-year-old woman carrying a substantial amount of hashish concealed inside a children's toy. The Ministry of Internal Affairs released official details regarding the operation.

The apprehension was the result of a joint raid conducted by the Cybercrime Department of the Tashkent Regional Internal Affairs Directorate and the Nurafshan City Internal Affairs Department. Acting on intelligence gathered from internet sources, operational officers intercepted a Nexia 3 vehicle and proceeded to inspect the personal belongings of the female passenger.

Officers grew suspicious after noticing the unusual weight and rigidity of a doll found among the suspect's packages. Upon opening the toy, authorities discovered eight distinct wrappings hidden inside the head region, containing a dark-brown substance with a pungent odor that was later identified as hashish, with each package weighing between 100 and 150 grams.

According to regional police reports, the suspect was allegedly transporting the narcotics from the Fergana region to Tashkent for further distribution. In a video released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the detained woman claimed that an acquaintance had promised her a meager reward of 200 US dollars for successfully delivering the parcels.

The Ministry confirmed that criminal proceedings have been initiated under Article 273, Part 6 of the Criminal Code, which addresses the illegal acquisition, storage, and processing of narcotic drugs in large quantities for distribution purposes. Conviction under this specific provision carries severe penalties, ranging from 15 to 20 years of imprisonment. This incident follows earlier high-profile smuggling attempts, such as the February 2025 seizure at the 'Ayritom' border post in Surkhandarya, where traffickers attempted to smuggle over 610 kilograms of hashish hidden inside broom handles.

Source: www.gazeta.uz