Customs officers foil attempt to smuggle 45 kg of pregabalin disguised as laundry detergent

Officers of the Andijan Regional Customs Department, in cooperation with the State Security Service (SSS) and internal affairs bodies, thwarted an attempt to illegally import a powerful substance into Uzbekistan through the Dustlik customs checkpoint.

Three individuals, who had been routinely smuggling goods disguised as personal belongings, were caught while attempting to transport three packages of Ariel laundry detergent weighing 9 kg. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the packages had been previously opened and resealed — they actually contained pregabalin, a psychoactive pharmaceutical substance.

Later that same day, a person set to receive the substances was detained in the Akhangaran district. Authorities found an additional 27 kg of powder containing pregabalin in his possession. During the investigation, operatives discovered that an illegal drug lab had been set up in a rented apartment in Tashkent’s Uchtepa district.

A search of the lab revealed equipment, raw materials, and empty capsules intended for drug packaging. The following day, another shipment was intercepted at the Dustlik checkpoint — 20 kg of pregabalin powder headed to the same laboratory.

In total, authorities seized 56 kg of substances, 45 kg of which was pure pregabalin. It is noted that 1 kg of pregabalin can be processed into 33,000 capsules, meaning the confiscated volume could have been used to produce nearly 1.5 million capsules.

According to preliminary estimates, the black market value of the seized substances is around 40 billion UZS. A criminal case has been initiated in connection with the incident.