Drug-related crimes increasing in Uzbekistan: President orders intensified action

Since the beginning of this year, more than 11,000 drug-related crimes have been detected in Uzbekistan, with nearly 2.5 tons of narcotics seized. This was announced on November 3 during a presentation attended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which focused on protecting the nation’s gene pool from drug addiction, combating cybercrime, and digitizing prosecutorial oversight.

It was noted that in recent years, drug-related crimes have become a new global threat to humanity. According to analyses, over 400 million people worldwide are affected by drug addiction, resulting in nearly 300,000 deaths each year. Unfortunately, Uzbekistan is not immune to this problem: more than 11,000 cases have been registered so far this year, and about 2.5 tons of narcotics have been intercepted. The steady increase in both the scale and types of such crimes underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive national strategy to combat drug trafficking and addiction.

During the meeting, existing negative trends in the field were analyzed. It was reported that in recent times, psychotropic and synthetic substances in the form of easily consumable and concealable pills are replacing traditional drugs. Their spread mainly occurs among young people. Synthetic drugs are often produced in clandestine laboratories and distributed online through contactless methods, while organized crime groups involved in such activities increasingly operate across borders.

“For this reason, it is time to introduce legislative measures aimed at preventing these threats, fighting them relentlessly, and eradicating this evil from its roots,” the President stated.

Officials presented plans and proposals to eliminate the illegal circulation of narcotics. These included comprehensive measures and mechanisms to effectively protect public health and the nation’s gene pool from the threat of drug abuse.

Particular emphasis was placed on completely halting the spread of drugs among school and university students and fostering a zero-tolerance attitude toward addiction among young people. The President instructed that this be treated as one of the top priorities for all relevant government bodies and organizations.

He also highlighted the need to strictly suppress the illegal drug trade among youth through criminal-legal mechanisms, toughen penalties for drug-related crimes involving minors, and enhance investigative and operational efforts to identify and dismantle online distributors, organized groups, clandestine laboratories, and the officials supporting them.

Additionally, the system for diagnosing, treating, and providing medical and social rehabilitation to minors and young people suffering from drug addiction will undergo fundamental reform.

The President approved the draft of the National Program of Comprehensive Practical Measures for 2025–2026 on Early Prevention and Combating Drug Addiction and Drug-Related Crimes. The program includes over 100 operational, preventive, organizational, educational, and awareness-raising initiatives. Relevant instructions were given to ensure continuous and coordinated implementation of these efforts.