"A 35-year old citizen of Uzbekistan has been detained in the central market of the Atakent settlement in the course of the Poppy-2008 operation, as a result of joint efforts of personnel of the directorate for fighting the drug business, criminal and road police, and officers of the Makhtaaral District interior department. A package wrapped by sticky tape, containing 1.105 kg of heroin, was found on him," the press service said.

The detainee explained that he had been asked to take the heroin from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan and had been promised US$500 for transportation, the report said.

At the moment the drug courier is under arrest. A criminal case has been launched against him under Article 259 of the Kazakh Criminal Code (illicit production, purchase, storage, transportation, or sale of narcotic substances), and an investigation is under way.