UZBEK POLICE PUT END TO ACTIVITY OF DRUG SMUGGLING GROUP

TASHKENT - A group of drug smugglers has been exposed in Uzbekistan. The
narcotics were being shipped to Russia. Shuhrat Gafurov, a resident of
Samarkand, has been detained for smuggling 500 gramsof heroin, sources in
the public relations bureau of the Uzbek security service have told
Interfax. Criminal proceedings have been instituted. The police have
exposed the whole mechanism of the group, made up of nationals of
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Danotar Pishmanov from
Karakalpakstan, an autonomous district of Uzbekistan, led the group.

The drugs were supplied from Tajikistan. Gafurov shipped the drugs to his
accomplices in Karakalpakstan, from where they were smuggled directly to
Russia or transported to Russia via Turkmenistan.

The police confiscated firearms, 45,000 dollars, 3.5m Turkmen manats, over
2 million Uzbek soms (1 dollar = 377.70 sums) and a large quantity of
narcotics from the group members.

About 10 similar groups have been exposed in Uzbekistan since the beginning
of the year. The overall haul by the police has exceeded 70 kg of heroin.