Shavkat Mirziyoyev: Narcotics trade can be defeated by cutting off its financial arteries

Speaking to international delegates, the president noted that Uzbekistan is advancing a comprehensive set of initiatives designed to counter these threats and prevent drug-related crime. He emphasized that timely information exchange remains the cornerstone of any successful effort to dismantle transnational criminal networks.

"In this regard, we propose launching a unified digital platform that will integrate the databases of law enforcement agencies of all participating states and operate using artificial intelligence," the president said. He added that the platform should facilitate the early detection of trafficking routes and allow for the real-time monitoring of dangerous shipments and criminal group activities.

Cutting off financial flows

President Mirziyoyev argued that the drug trade is best defeated not with weapons, but by neutralizing its financial foundation. He noted that the majority of illicit proceeds are now laundered through digital assets and offshore jurisdictions. Choking off these "financial arteries," he suggested, would cause the problem to disappear organically.

To achieve this, the president proposed unifying mandatory identification standards for cryptocurrency exchanges and introducing binding data-exchange agreements with offshore jurisdictions. Furthermore, he suggested implementing mechanisms to automatically block funds originating from unknown sources.

"I also propose introducing a system of an 'international digital black code,' which would automatically track the movement of illicit funds worldwide and immediately classify any bank or financial institution that receives them as high-risk," Mirziyoyev stated.

Addressing the rise of synthetic drugs

The head of state expressed concern over the daily emergence of new types of synthetic narcotics. To combat this trend, he proposed the establishment of a permanent dialogue platform aimed at developing modern methods and standards for the effective treatment of patients suffering from synthetic drug addiction.

To further facilitate the exchange of medical expertise, Uzbekistan has proposed the creation of an Association of Narcologists of Central Asia. President Mirziyoyev offered to host the headquarters of this new organization in Samarkand.

Development support for high-risk regions

Addressing the root causes of the trade, the president noted that drug cultivation often persists in regions with limited economic opportunities and high unemployment. He called on the international community to develop a special development program for high-risk regions, treating it as a shared global responsibility rather than mere aid.

The proposed program would include investing in the formal economy, improving infrastructure, and developing education and healthcare to create stable income sources for populations currently prone to drug-crop cultivation.

The situation in Uzbekistan

In recent years, Uzbekistan has adopted more than 20 laws aimed at strengthening its fight against narcotics. These legislative efforts have led to a 2.5-fold increase in detected offenses and a doubling of seized narcotics. Notably, the volume of synthetic drugs destroyed has risen sevenfold.

In 2025 alone, authorities uncovered more than 15,000 drug-related crimes, dismantled 14 underground laboratories, and shut down 72 major online marketplaces. However, the President noted a concerning demographic trend: one in three drug-related offenses in the country is committed by young people between the ages of 15 and 30.