According to the SSS, the suspects, born in 1994, 1997 and 2001, entered Uzbekistan on 12 June. Searches of two apartments where they had been staying in Tashkent's Yashnobod district uncovered narcotics that had allegedly been packaged into small quantities for distribution through concealed "dead drop" locations across the capital.
Investigators identified the seized substances as hashish, mephedrone and alpha-PVP, with a combined weight of 1.945 kilograms.
Authorities also recovered an additional 460 grams of mephedrone and alpha-PVP that had allegedly been left in a hidden location by the operators of an online drug store for the suspects to repackage and distribute in Tashkent.
A criminal case has been opened under Article 273, Part 6(a) of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code, which covers the illegal manufacture, processing, acquisition, storage and distribution of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues with the intent to sell. The suspects have been placed in pretrial detention, and the investigation is ongoing.
