Telegram “pill” sellers who laundered $2.3 million detained (video)

Individuals who created a Telegram bot to sell narcotics and carried out crypto-asset transactions worth $2.375 million through various cryptocurrency wallets have been detained in Tashkent. The Tashkent City Main Department of Internal Affairs reported this.

According to the report, officers of the Department for Combating Crimes in the Field of Information Technologies under the Tashkent City Main Department of Internal Affairs uncovered a special Telegram bot created for the illegal sale of narcotic drugs, their analogues, and psychotropic substances during an оператив operation. Individuals involved in receiving, transferring, and exchanging crypto-assets through this bot were also identified.

As a result of оператив search measures conducted in Tashkent’s Yunusabad district, individuals born in 1997 (A.), 2001 (Sh.), and another person identified as T. were detained. It was established that they had been operating the bot. During the operation, four mobile phones, three laptops, 12 different bank cards, 11 SIM cards, and narcotic substances wrapped in paper were seized and officially documented in the presence of witnesses.

An examination of the mobile phones belonging to suspects A. and Sh. revealed that nearly 95,000 transactions had been carried out through foreign and other electronic cryptocurrency wallets, with the total volume of crypto-asset turnover amounting to approximately $2.375 million. Investigative actions involving suspect Sh. also confirmed that the group had been managing a special channel created for the sale of narcotic drugs, their analogues, and psychotropic substances.

Further оператив search measures led to a search of suspect A.’s residence in the presence of witnesses, during which 550 units of potent drugs were discovered at his place of residence.

Criminal cases have been initiated under Articles 278-8 (Violation of legislation in the field of crypto-asset circulation), 243 (Legalization of proceeds derived from criminal activity), and 251-1 (Preparation, distribution, advertising, or demonstration of products promoting potent substances that are not classified as narcotic drugs, their analogues, or psychotropic substances, as well as the illegal circulation of such substances or toxic materials) of the Criminal Code. A preventive measure in the form of detention has been applied.

Earlier, individuals engaged in the sale of narcotic drugs through social networks were detained in Kashkadarya region.