Beware of weight-loss products: Criminal cases opened over smuggling of banned tea into Tashkent

At the Tashkent region customs border checkpoint, 1.3 tons of tea, coffee, and capsules containing a prohibited substance were discovered, the press service of the Customs Department reported.

It was stated that attempts to smuggle large quantities of tea and coffee containing the potent substance sibutramine were prevented by the staff of the “Keles” foreign economic activity customs post, the Anti-Smuggling Department, and the Central Customs Laboratory.

During a customs inspection of goods imported under the name of a Tashkent-based LLC, weight-loss tea and coffee products in four different types of packaging, weighing more than 1 ton and 313 kilograms, drew the attention of customs officers. The goods were sent to the Central Customs Laboratory for analysis.

According to expert examinations, the potent substance sibutramine was detected in the weight-loss tea, coffee, and capsules. As a result, a criminal case has been initiated by the customs authorities.

It should be noted that sibutramine, which is consumed for weight-loss purposes, is classified as a potent substance and has harmful effects on the cardiovascular and nervous systems. For this reason, its consumption is restricted in many countries around the world. It has been included in the list of potent substances banned in Uzbekistan since January 6 of this year, and under criminal law, even 0.5 grams is considered a large quantity.

QALAMPIR.UZ has prepared a special report about the harmful effects of this substance and recent legal changes regarding its consumption.