Tashkent Police Bust Online Drug Network Worth $2.4M

As part of an investigative operation, the Cybercrime Unit of the Tashkent City Main Department of Internal Affairs uncovered a specialized Telegram bot used for the illegal sale of narcotic and psychotropic substances.

The platform was also used by the suspects to purchase, transfer, and exchange crypto-assets, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

Following the operation, three individuals responsible for managing the bot were detained in Tashkent’s Yunusabad district. In the presence of witnesses, law enforcement officers confiscated four mobile phones, three laptops, 12 plastic bank cards issued by various banks, 11 SIM cards, as well as narcotic substances wrapped in paper.

Further analysis of the mobile phones belonging to two of the detainees showed that they had carried out nearly 95,000 transactions using foreign and other electronic cryptocurrency wallets. The total volume of crypto-assets involved reached $2.375 million. In addition, a search conducted at the residence of another suspect resulted in the discovery of 550 units of potent pharmaceutical drugs.

Criminal cases have been opened under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code, and the suspects have been placed under pretrial detention as a preventive measure.