In Tashkent, individuals who opened a Telegram bot for the sale of narcotic substances and carried out a cryptocurrency turnover of 2 million 375 thousand dollars through various crypto wallets were detained. This was reported by the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs.
It is noted that during an operational measure conducted by the Department for Combating Crimes in the Field of Information Technology of the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs, a special bot created on the Telegram messenger for the illegal trade of narcotic drugs, their analogues, and psychotropic substances was exposed. Furthermore, individuals engaged in receiving, transferring, and exchanging crypto assets through this bot were identified.
As a result of operational-search measures conducted in connection with this case in the Yunusabad district of the capital, individuals born in 1997 (A.), 2001 (Sh. and T.) were detained, and it was established that they were managing the aforementioned bot. During the operation, 4 phones, 3 laptops, 12 various bank plastic cards, 11 SIM cards, and narcotic substances wrapped in paper were found and officially documented with the participation of witnesses.
Moreover, upon examination of the phone devices of suspects A. and Sh., it was established that approximately 95,000 transactions were carried out through foreign and other electronic crypto wallets, and a total cryptocurrency turnover equivalent to 2 million 375 thousand dollars was executed. Additionally, as a result of interrogations conducted with suspect Sh., it was determined that a special channel created by these individuals for the trade of narcotic drugs, their analogues, and psychotropic substances was managed by them.
As a result of operational-search measures, upon inspection of suspect A.'s apartment with witnesses, 550 units of potent drugs were found at his place of residence. In connection with these cases, a criminal case has been initiated under Article 278-8 (Violation of legislation in the field of crypto-asset turnover), Article 243 (Legalization of proceeds from criminal activity), and Article 251-1 (Preparation, distribution, advertising, display of products promoting potent substances not considered narcotic drugs, their analogues, or psychotropic substances, or illegal introduction into circulation of such substances or poisonous substances) of the Criminal Code, and the preventive measure of "detention" has been chosen.
