As a result of a joint operation by the National Security Service {NSS) and other law-enforcement agencies of Uzbekistan, 126 kg of heroin was seized.

As was noted, suspected drug couriers came into the view of operatives during an operation to trace a drug smuggling channel on the route Tajikistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-Russia.

The suspects travelling in two KamAZ lorries loaded with 22 tonnes of apples were stopped on the Tashkent-Chinoz (a northwestern route) road. The fruit was meant for export to Russian towns by railway. During an inspection of the cargo, heroin was seized from 20 boxes of apples. Its total weight was over 126 kg.

The detainees are six residents of Tashkent Region’s Bekobod District, bordering the Tajik region of Sughd.

Thanks to rapid search operations, another resident of the district who had been actively involved in heroin smuggling from Tajikistan was also arrested.

A criminal case under articles 246 (smuggling) and 273 (illegal preparation, purchase, storage and other acts involving drugs or psychotropic substances with the aim of selling them) of the Uzbek Criminal Code has been opened against the detainees.