ISLAMABAD: Uzbekistan has thwarted a cross-border drug smuggling attempt after intercepting a drone carrying more than two kilograms of opium from Afghanistan, said the Uzbek security service, as quoted by the country’s media.

Uzbek authorities described this as the first publicly reported case of narcotics trafficking by drone along the two countries’ shared border.

According to Uzbek media reports, the unmanned aerial vehicle was detected after crossing into the Surkhandarya region near the Amu Darya (Oxus) River.

“Security personnel tracked the drone and recovered approximately 2 kilograms and 32 grams of opium attached to the aircraft before it could reach its intended destination,” reports said.

Uzbekistan’s State Security Service said the incident is under criminal investigation, with authorities working to identify those responsible for organizing the cross-border operation.

Officials believe the drone originated from Afghanistan and was being used to bypass traditional border security measures.

The seizure comes amid growing concerns over the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for illicit cross-border activities, including drug trafficking.

The Afghanistan-Uzbekistan border has long been considered a key transit corridor for narcotics originating in Afghanistan.

Despite a sharp decline in opium production in Afghanistan, international agencies have warned that existing stockpiles remain sufficient to sustain trafficking networks for some time.

The latest interception underscores evolving security challenges in Central Asia, with regional authorities facing the dual task of countering drug trafficking and adapting to the growing use of emerging technologies by organized criminal networks.

Opium cultivation in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has long remained the world's largest source of illicit opium, making it a key hub in the global narcotics trade.

According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the country produced around 80% of the world's illicit opium in 2022, with an estimated 6,200 metric tonnes harvested.

Before the Taliban's nationwide ban on poppy cultivation, Afghanistan's opiate exports were estimated to be worth between $1.7 billion and $2.5 billion annually, often exceeding the country's legal exports.

However, UNODC reported that opium cultivation plunged by 95% in 2023, reducing production to just 333 tonnes and shrinking the estimated export value to $190-260 million.

Despite this sharp decline, experts warn that narcotics trafficking networks remain active, while concerns are growing over the expansion of synthetic drugs, particularly methamphetamine, in the region.

opium

Uzbekistan foils drone-borne opium smuggling bid from Afghanistan