Authorities in Uzbekistan’s southern Surkhandarya region have stopped an alleged attempt to bring nearly 1.8 kilograms of narcotics into the country, including opium concealed inside vehicle spare parts, according to a report by AN Podrobno.uz. The operation focused on a Toyota vehicle driven by an Afghan citizen at the Ayritom border customs post. Officers reportedly found about 400 grams of opium hidden inside an engine piston before searching the man’s temporary residence in Termez, where more drugs were discovered. Investigators later detained an alleged recipient in Shurchi district. A criminal case has been opened, and the State Security Service has asked the public to report suspected drug-related activity via the short number 1520.
Key Takeaways: Nearly 1.8 kg of narcotics were recovered in total, including 400 grams of opium found inside an engine piston at the Ayritom customs post. A further 848 grams of opium and 551 grams of heroin were found in vehicle parts at a temporary residence in Termez. An alleged recipient was detained in Shurchi district, and a criminal case has been opened under the Criminal Code.
The case highlights the continuing pressure on Central Asian border and customs services as they try to disrupt drug trafficking routes linked to Afghanistan. Surkhandarya borders Afghanistan and is a key transit area, making vehicle inspections and post-border checks particularly important. The report indicates that officers did not stop at the initial find: after discovering the opium inside the piston, they expanded the search to the suspect’s temporary address in Termez. This led to the discovery of additional narcotics concealed in other automobile parts, suggesting a more organized concealment method.
According to the available details, the Toyota was checked at the Ayritom border customs post. The driver was identified as an Afghan citizen. About 400 grams of opium was found hidden inside an engine piston. At the temporary residence in Termez, law enforcement found another 848 grams of opium and 551 grams of heroin in other vehicle components. The total amount of drugs involved was therefore close to 1.8 kilograms. The mixed concealment method, using ordinary spare parts, underlines the challenges facing customs officers who must inspect vehicles and cargo for contraband.
In further operational measures, officers detained the suspected recipient of the drugs in Shurchi district. The suspect is described as a resident of Denov district. A criminal case has been opened against those involved under Part 2 of Article 246, read with Article 28, and point “a” of Part 6 of Article 273 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code. The investigation is ongoing. The State Security Service urged citizens to report suspicious cases related to the distribution of narcotics to the short number 1520, with confidentiality guaranteed for informants.
The report also recalled an earlier case in Surkhandarya in which two men were detained for attempting to sell more than five kilograms of opium delivered from Afghanistan. That reference points to a broader pattern of drug seizures in the border region and to the continuing focus of Uzbek law enforcement on intercepting narcotics before they move deeper into the country or onward to other markets. Further procedural steps, including forensic examinations and investigative actions, are expected as the case develops. Authorities have not disclosed additional details about the suspects or the possible network behind the consignment.
Source: podrobno.uz