Authorities seize 612 kg of narcotics hidden in brooms in Surkhandarya
Border Troops foil attempt to smuggle 612 kg of narcotics hidden in broom handles
In a successful operation, the Border Troops of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Customs Committee intercepted an attempt to smuggle 612 kg of narcotics concealed inside broom handles into the country. The incident took place in Surkhandarya, where authorities thwarted another major drug trafficking attempt.
On February 9, 2025, border control procedures at the “Termiz Highways” International Checkpoint led officers to inspect a cargo vehicle entering the country for transit. The truck was loaded with 13.5 tons of brooms, raising suspicions among the authorities.
As a result, the vehicle was taken to a customs warehouse under the supervision of the “Termiz” External Economic Activity Customs Post for a thorough inspection. Upon examination, authorities discovered 180 sacks filled with 22,500 household brooms made from sorghum stalks. Further scrutiny revealed that 2,986 of these brooms had concealed polyethylene packages, disguised as part of the broom handles.
Upon opening the packages in the presence of witnesses, authorities found approximately 200 grams of a potent, dark brown substance suspected to be a narcotic. An express analysis confirmed that the substance was hashish, with a total weight of 612 kg including packaging.
A preliminary investigation has been launched to uncover more details about the attempted smuggling operation. This successful interception highlights the dedication and vigilance of the Border Troops and Customs Committee in combating drug trafficking and protecting the country from such illicit activities.
