Authorities intercept massive opium smuggling attempt at border with Tajikistan
Authorities have thwarted an attempt to smuggle more than 20 kilograms of opium across the Tajikistan-Uzbekistan border, resulting in the arrest and conviction of three individuals.

Illustrative photo
The investigation revealed that D.A., a resident of Urgut District in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand Region, traveled to the Penjikent district of Tajikistan’s Sughd region. There, he gave a drug dealer $20,000 as a partial payment for 20.747 kilograms of opium, a transaction initially agreed upon for $100,000.
D.A. was tasked with transporting the illicit substance to the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan border. After completing the handover, he returned to Uzbekistan. The following day, he and his accomplice, Tajik citizen S.M., went back to Penjikent, where they retrieved the drugs from couriers. However, their attempt to cross the border with the narcotics was intercepted by law enforcement officers.
Further investigation uncovered the involvement of a third accomplice, J.R., another resident of Urgut district, in the smuggling operation.
The Criminal Court of the Urgut district found D.A. and S.M. guilty of offenses under the Criminal Code and sentenced them to 16 years and 6 months of imprisonment each. J.R. received a sentence of 16 years.
Recommended
List of streets and intersections being repaired in Tashkent published
SOCIETY | 19:12 / 16.05.2024
Uzbekistan's flag flies high on Oceania's tallest volcano
SOCIETY | 17:54 / 15.05.2024
New tariffs to be introduced in Tashkent public transport
SOCIETY | 14:55 / 05.05.2023
Onix and Tracker cars withdrawn from sale
BUSINESS | 10:20 / 05.05.2023
Latest news
-
Strategic partnership, transport corridors, critical minerals and more – Samarkand summit highlights
POLITICS | 19:10 / 09.04.2025
-
Uzbekistan plans to extend visa-free stay for Arab countries to 30 days
SOCIETY | 18:50 / 09.04.2025
-
Uzbekistan and U.S. ink agreements to boost critical mineral projects
SOCIETY | 18:30 / 09.04.2025
-
"Tourists are complaining about poor road conditions" – President slams inaction in tourism development, orders swift infrastructure fixes
SOCIETY | 18:03 / 09.04.2025
Related News

16:23 / 03.04.2025
Kyrgyz citizens charged $15 fee to cross Uzbekistan border with tinted windows, MP calls for action

19:45 / 31.03.2025
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan sign landmark border agreement

15:52 / 28.03.2025
New customs system to speed up vehicle inspections with "Green" and "Red" corridors

12:48 / 20.03.2025