Uzbekistan, Tashkent – AN Podrobno.uz. In January-February of this year, law enforcement agencies disrupted the activities of 22 criminal groups involved in drug production and distribution. Five leaders and 84 accomplices were detained, and eight clandestine drug laboratories were dismantled.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while 14 clandestine labs were identified throughout 2025, eight have already been discovered in the first two months of this year alone. Three of these were underground workshops for producing psychotropic substances, while the other five specialized in synthetic drug manufacturing.

During January-February, authorities seized 41 kilograms of traditional drugs, over 100 kilograms of synthetic substances, approximately 200,000 units of psychotropic medications (equivalent to about one million single doses), and nearly two tons of precursors from illegal circulation.

The investigation revealed that some of the dismantled groups had been operating from two months to ten years. Annually, they sold over one million psychotropic medications and distributed 2 to 2.5 tons of drugs, including hashish and opium.

Through online stores, the criminals distributed about 350 kilograms of synthetic drugs per year. Over three years, sales volumes ranged from 700 to 800 kilograms, corresponding to approximately four million single doses.

The drug groups' operations spanned 40 districts and cities in Tashkent, Namangan, Andijan, Samarkand, and Syrdarya regions. Drug trafficking had a cross-border nature, with smuggling occurring from Afghanistan via Surkhandarya, from Kyrgyzstan through Namangan and Andijan regions, and from Kazakhstan via Tashkent region.

Investigative actions continue, with law enforcement working to identify all participants in criminal schemes and cut off supply channels.

Source: podrobno.uz