In Uzbekistan, nearly 50 students were caught in drug trafficking in half a year

Nearly 50 students were caught in drug trafficking in Uzbekistan in half a year, Uznews reported.

According to the National Center for Drug Control under the President, 46 students were found to be involved in drug trafficking in the first six months of 2025. This was reported by the centers senior inspector, Mukhammadqodir Mahmudov.

According to him, recently criminal groups have been actively recruiting students as drug couriers. It has been observed that young people entering higher education institutions are being drawn into illegal activities.

The inspector also emphasized that the number of clandestine drug laboratories in the country is increasing. While 5 such laboratories were identified throughout 2024, as many as 8 cases have already been recorded in just the first half of 2025.

According to Mahmudov, now drugs are not only found in natural products, but also in products such as drinks, energy drinks, coffee, and sweets. Consuming these substances even once can lead to strong addiction.

According to the inspector, new types of drugs do not immediately manifest changes in a person. Therefore, many parents think the changes in their children are for the better, when in fact these are the initial signs of this affliction. Over time, it was noted that pain, psychological distress, and even cases of suicide attempts have been observed.

In 2025, the number of drug-related crimes increased by 23 percent compared to 2024. Muhammadqodir Mahmudov called on citizens, especially parents, to be attentive and vigilant towards their children.