TASHKENT, February 4 (RIA Novosti) - Police in Uzbekistan have seized a total of 22.5 kg (50 lbs) of heroin in the southeastern province of Surkhandarya, a spokesman for the republic's Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

The heroin, stashed in a house, was found following a tipoff from a street dealer who was detained in possession of several single doses of the drug.

Three people were arrested in connection with the seizure and a criminal case has been opened.

Surkhandarya province is located in the extreme southeast of the country and borders the former Soviet republics of Turkmenistan and Tajikstan, as well as the world's largest heroin producer, Afghanistan.

Drug traffickers use secret mountain roads to smuggle drugs into Uzbekistan and then couriers transport the drugs to Russia and onto Europe.