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25% of Afghan drugs pass through Central Asia - Uzbek report

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About 25% of the narcotics produced in Afghanistan are transported through Central Asia and most of them end up on European and Russian streets, a regional anti-drugs agency said Monday.

TASHKENT, May 29 (RIA Novosti) - About 25% of the narcotics produced in Afghanistan are transported through Central Asia and most of them end up on European and Russian streets, a regional anti-drugs agency said Monday.

According to a report published by Uzbekistan's National Analytical Center for drug control, about 150 metric tons of heroin and 30 metric tons of raw opium are smuggled every year through the "northern route" from Afghanistan.

Only 25% of the drugs are sold in transit countries and the remaining 75% are sold in Russia and western Europe, the report said.

"The transit of such a large amount of heroin through Central Asia leads to higher crime, pushes local residents into the narcotics business, and increases the number of addicts," the document said.

The report also said 8,367 drug-related crimes were registered in Uzbekistan in 2005 and 5,100 people, including 788 women, were convicted in the period.

In 2005, operatives seized about 1,221 kilograms (2,689 lbs) of narcotics, including 467kg (1,029 lbs) of heroin, 107.7kg (236 lbs) of raw opium, 193kg (425 lbs) of kuknar (poppy plant), 445kg (980 lbs) of marijuana and 9.8kg (22 lbs) of hashish, the report said.

According to the center, there are about 22,100 registered drug-addicts in Uzbekistan and increased drug-trafficking has led HIV-infection rates increasing in the republic as users share dirty needles.

"Last year, 2,298 HIV+ cases were registered in the republic, including 1,168 among addicts that injected drugs," the report said. "Overall, more than half of the 7,810 HIV+ patients [in Uzbekistan] are drug-addicts."

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