TASHKENT. Sept 4 (Interfax) - Military servicemen from the Uzbekistan Border Guard Authority have foiled an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics from Afghanistan, a spokesperson for the republic's National Security Service Committee for National Border Protection told Interfax on Thursday.
"An Afghan national was held as he tried to cross the national border illegally with nearly 30 kilograms of raw opium," the spokesperson said.
Apart from the drugs, his hand luggage also contained a PM pistol and ammunition, the spokesperson said.
A criminal case has been opened over the incident; the inquiry is underway.
According to the National Information Analytical Center for Drug Control, in 2013 Uzbekistan registered 7,680 crimes related to the illicit drug trade. The past year saw a total of 2,326 kilograms of illegal drugs seized and 111 foreigners, including 26 Afghans, arrested in connection with drug-related crimes.