The National Agency for Control over Narcotics and Firearms said the network was allegedly run through social media by an individual identified as Ramzan, who coordinated drug shipments from Thailand.
According to the agency, the group deliberately recruited couriers from a neighboring country who had never previously traveled to Uzbekistan, believing they would attract less scrutiny from customs officials.
The first case involved a passenger arriving from Phuket carrying 7.18 kilograms of the synthetic drug mephedrone, concealed inside packages of powdered milk and spices.
After repeated attempts to smuggle drugs on direct flights from Thailand were thwarted, investigators said the network began using increasingly complex transit routes through third countries to avoid detection.
In one case, a courier traveled from Bangkok to Tashkent via Vietnam and South Korea. Authorities said the passenger was carrying 11.1 kilograms of hashish oil, which had passed undetected through airports in both countries before reaching Uzbekistan.
Investigators placed the suspect under surveillance after arrival and followed him to a bus terminal in Tashkent's Chilanzar district, where his luggage was searched. The narcotics, concealed inside containers of chocolate spread, shampoo, ketchup and spices, were allegedly destined for neighboring Kazakhstan.
In another case, customs officers intercepted a passenger travelling from Thailand to Tashkent via Sharjah and found nearly 4.5 kilograms of mephedrone concealed inside food packaging.
The fourth case involved a passenger who flew from Bangkok to Tashkent via New Delhi. Officers discovered 11.86 kilograms of hashish oil hidden inside food containers and shampoo bottles.
According to the State Security Service, a criminal case has been opened under Part 2 of Article 246 of the Criminal Code, which covers smuggling. The suspects have been placed in pretrial detention, and the investigation is ongoing.
