The action, which took place on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, was organized by the National Security Service on the instruction of the government.

The annual burning, held since 1994, is usually attended by the representatives of the law-enforcement and court bodies, media, diplomats and the public. Some 40.5 tons of narcotic substances have been burnt over the last 14 years.

In 2007, Uzbekistan’s law-enforcement bodies revealed 9,435 drug-abuse-related crimes. The total volume of seized drugs comprised 2,114 kg, Kamol Dostmetov, director of the National information and analytical center for drug control under the Cabinet of Ministers, told journalists in Tashkent.

The drugs are smuggled in Uzbekistan by railway, air and automobile transport, as well as by cartage and by foot. The drugs are hidden in vegetables, fruit, hand luggage, consumer goods and other items.

During the wide-scale Black Poppy-2007 operation, illegal crops of drug-containing plants were liquidated on the total territory of 1.5 hectare. Besides, wild cannabis was liquidated on the area of almost 9,000 square meters.

The measures taken in Uzbekistan to halt spread of drugs and drug business are effective, head of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime in Tashkent James Callahan said at the press conference.

Uzbekistan is currently implementing a program of complex measures to fight drug abuse and circulation for 2007-2010. The country has established cooperation with the states of Central Asia, as well as Russia, Iran, China, Poland, Italy, Pakistan, Ukraine, Germany, Georgia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Latvia and other states in this area.

Implementing international obligations in drug control, Uzbekistan participates in 14 international technical assistance projects of the UNODC.