$1 million worth of synthetic drugs were seized from drug lab in Tashkent

A person involved in the production of synthetic drugs was arrested in the Mirabad district of Tashkent, as reported by the General Directorate of Internal Affairs.

Authorities revealed that the arrest was made following a swift operation conducted by the criminal investigation department's rapid response team and the State Security Service. During the operation, it was discovered that the suspect was manufacturing synthetic drugs using multiple drug labs located across different sites. One of these labs was found in a multi-storey building in the Yashnabad district.

Further inspection of the suspect’s apartment in the Tashkent region uncovered synthetic drugs, along with various containers, gloves, scales, and gas masks, which were documented as physical evidence.

On the same day, authorities confiscated 4.8 kilograms of synthetic narcotics from the first laboratory and approximately 10 kilograms from the second apartment. In total, 14.795 kilograms of drugs, valued at around $1 million, were officially seized in the presence of impartial witnesses.

The seized substances were examined by the Expert-Criminalistic Service of Tashkent city MDIA, which confirmed that all the materials were synthetic drugs.

In light of these findings, the investigative department of the DIA of the Mirabad district has launched a criminal case under Article 273, Part 5, of the Criminal Code. This law pertains to the illegal production, acquisition, storage, and distribution of narcotic drugs, their analogues, or psychotropic substances. The suspect is currently in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

It should be noted that this incident follows a previous case where authorities uncovered drug laboratories operating in two apartments in Tashkent. During a routine inspection at the "Dustlik" border customs post between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, officials found 11 packages weighing 33 kilograms, concealed in a passenger's handbag, containing a substance similar to the strong active compound "Pregabalin," despite being labeled as laundry detergent.