Uzbek security authorities have arrested an Afghan citizen at the Termez International Trade Center while he was allegedly attempting to sell opium.
Uzbekistan’s State Security Service said the suspect was carrying 506 grams of opium and intended to sell the drugs for $2,500.
The operation was carried out in cooperation with customs authorities and police in the Surxondaryo region.
According to Uzbek authorities, the suspect was born in 2003 and had concealed the opium in five packages inside his body in an attempt to evade customs and border inspections.
After entering Uzbekistan, he reportedly traveled to the Termez International Trade Center to deliver the drugs to an agreed meeting point, where security forces arrested him.
Uzbek authorities have opened a criminal case against the suspect and said investigations are continuing to identify any possible accomplices.
The Termez International Trade Center is located in Uzbekistan’s Surxondaryo region near the Afghan border and the Hairatan crossing. The center was officially opened in September 2024 with the stated aim of facilitating cross-border trade, supporting businesses from both countries and expanding economic ties between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
The arrest highlights the continued security and customs scrutiny along the border area, which has also seen previous drug seizures reported by Uzbek authorities.
The allegations against the suspect have not been independently verified, and the final outcome of the criminal case remains pending.
