Tashkent Customs Seize Marijuana from Passenger from Bangkok
Customs officers at Tashkent International Airport have apprehended a foreign national arriving from Bangkok after discovering 12 sealed packages in their possession.
Subsequent laboratory testing confirmed that the concealed parcels contained 6.3 kilogrammes of dried marijuana, according to an official statement from the Customs Committee.
Authorities, customs officials and border guards report a concerning and persistent rise in drug smuggling activities across the country. During the first three months of 2026 alone, security personnel at the capital’s airport intercepted nearly 30 kilogrammes of various illicit substances. This alarming figure represents a sharp increase of 18 kilogrammes when compared to the same period last year.
The escalating drug crisis was recently addressed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The head of state highlighted that the volume of synthetic narcotics seized in Tashkent has surged elevenfold over the past five years. He further pointed out that the illicit trade has modernised significantly, with 95% of sales now conducted online and paid for using cryptocurrency.
In response to these rapidly evolving threats, the president has mandated the drafting of comprehensive new legislation to replace the country’s outdated drug laws from 1999. During his address, he also issued a stern warning to the director of the Drug Control Agency regarding the urgent need to clamp down on the situation.
Across the entire republic, law enforcement confiscated a staggering 1.8 tonnes of illegal substances throughout 2025. As authorities tighten security, smugglers are increasingly employing highly elaborate methods to evade detection. In one notable incident this March, criminals attempted to traffic a massive 72-kilogramme shipment of hashish by meticulously disguising the contraband as ordinary potatoes.
