Illegal Drug Lab Discovered in Tashkent
Secret Facility Producing Counterfeit Medicines Discovered in Tashkent
In a significant crackdown on illegal pharmaceutical activities, law enforcement officials have uncovered and shut down a clandestine facility involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit medicines in Tashkent city and the surrounding region.
A joint operation between the State Security Service and customs authorities led to the inspection of a rented house in the Tashkent district. This site, leased by a resident of Tashkent city, was not only manufacturing fake medications but also distributing them illegally.
Inside the hidden laboratory, authorities found an alarming 594,127 units of 49 different types of counterfeit medicines, including well-known brands such as "Fusys," "Prosulpin," "Ursosan," and "Arbidol." These products were lacking proper documentation and safety certifications, raising serious health concerns. They had reportedly been produced manually with around 50 pieces of equipment, including machines and molds. In addition, officials seized 168 kilograms of substandard raw pharmaceutical materials, along with packaging materials and empty containers.
A subsequent investigation at the suspect’s residence in the Uchtepa district of Tashkent city yielded even more concerning findings. Authorities confiscated an additional 28,640 units of two types of medicines, 75 ampoules of various kinds, numerous unlabeled suppositories, and various packaging materials, all of which were taken as evidence of the ongoing illegal operations.
Investigators learned that the mastermind behind this illicit lab had been sourcing raw materials for medicine production from unidentified individuals online through special orders, highlighting a sophisticated network behind this operation.
The estimated value of the counterfeit medicines and equipment seized is approximately 10 billion UZS. Preliminary reports indicate that these counterfeit products had already infiltrated several pharmacies in Tashkent city and the Bukhara region, although subsequent operations have successfully halted their sale.
Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the lab operator under Article 186-3, Part 3, Paragraph "a" of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, and a thorough investigation is currently underway.
In a related case, authorities arrested a Tashkent resident and an accomplice—a local bank employee—while they were attempting to sell 574,560 units of infusion system medical supplies imported from China for $55,700. Post-expert evaluation deemed these items unfit for medical use and prohibited their sale, storage, and transport within Uzbekistan.
Criminal proceedings have also been initiated against this pair under the same legal provision, and investigations continue.
This operation underscores the ongoing battle against the distribution of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, which pose serious risks to public health and safety.
