Uzbek authorities have shut down an illegal pharmaceutical operation worth nearly 3 billion soums ($243.336 million), uncovering a hidden drug warehouse set up inside a private home in Tashkent.

Officers from the State Security Service and customs services halted the activities of individuals suspected of selling medicines without quality certification, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Investigators say a father and son, 57 and 29, organized a covert storage facility at their residence for pharmaceuticals imported through unauthorized channels. The drugs were then distributed to pharmacies for sale.

Massive Seizure

During searches of the suspects’ homes and vehicles, authorities seized:

133,374 units of medication

$50,000 in cash

10.6 million soums

Bank cards belonging to around 150 individuals

All confiscated medicines have been sent to the Center for Pharmaceutical Product Safety for expert examination.

Law enforcement agencies say investigative actions are ongoing as authorities work to determine the full scope of the operation and whether additional individuals were involved.