Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of efforts to combat the illegal circulation of potent pharmaceuticals, a special operation was carried out in Tashkent by the State Security Service in cooperation with customs authorities.

During the search of a rented apartment located in the Yangihayot district, in the presence of witnesses, officers discovered 16,249 units of the powerful drug “Zardex.” The apartment belonged to a resident of Akhangaran city in Tashkent region, born in 1992. The seized medicines were being stored for the purpose of illegal sale and were confiscated as material evidence.

It was established that the individual obtained the drugs from a hidden stash located in the Sergeli district. The substances had been left there in advance by a distributor who conducted sales through the Telegram messaging platform. After selling the drugs to clients, the suspect was expected to hand over 16,000 US dollars to the dealer.

The composition of “Zardex” includes pregabalin, a potent substance classified as a controlled drug under Resolution No. 818 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, issued in 2019.

A criminal case has been opened against the individual under Part 5 of Article 251-1 of the Criminal Code. A preventive measure in the form of pre-trial detention has been applied. Investigative actions are ongoing.