Elderly drug couriers detained in Surkhandarya (video)

A group made up of pensioners was detained in Surkhandarya region for distributing narcotic substances, the Interior Ministry reported.

According to the report, the activity of an organized drug trafficking group was stopped during a preventive operation. An Afghan national, acting as a supplier, allegedly conspired with a group of elderly residents of Surkhandarya and had been using them as drug couriers to distribute narcotics in the city and district of Termiz.

During the operation, one of the suspects was stopped and searched, and opium was found in his possession. Investigators later identified another individual who had delivered the substance, and money provided for the special operation was documented as evidence.

Further operational measures led to the detention of another courier linked to the group. Officers found 5 grams of narcotic substances on him. At the next stage of the operation, the main link in the criminal chain was exposed. During a search of his home, officers found a total of 12 packaged portions containing more than 12 grams of opium.

It was also established that the house contained equipment used for consuming narcotic substances. In an attempt to conceal their guilt, those involved in the crime also exposed their accomplices. Criminal cases have now been opened against all suspects under Articles 276 and 273 of the Criminal Code, which cover the illegal preparation, acquisition, storage and distribution of narcotic drugs, their analogues or psychotropic substances. A pretrial detention measure has been imposed on the suspects.

It is worth noting that earlier, a man was detained in Urgench, Khorezm region, for possessing nearly 1 kilogram of opium.