Kyrgyzstan dismantles Telegram drug store, detains teenagers

Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (SCNS) has successfully disrupted a major channel for the supply and distribution of synthetic drugs across the country. The security service announced that its operations have led to the arrest of individuals suspected of being part of a transnational drug trafficking group operating through online platforms.

During a controlled purchase operation on May 20, SCNS officers bought the synthetic drug Alpha-PVP from a Telegram-based drug store named SUM shop.kg. Subsequently, three Kyrgyzstanis, born in 2007, 2004, and 2009, were apprehended in a Bishkek hotel. Investigators reported finding a large consignment of synthetic drugs, including Alpha-PVP and mephedrone, in their possession. Stash locations containing substantial amounts of Alpha-PVP were also discovered at the residence of one of the suspects.

The SCNS stated that this operation dismantled a stable synthetic drug distribution channel and shut down the online drug store. All detainees are currently held in a temporary detention facility pending the outcome of the investigation. The committee emphasized that criminal liability for drug offenses in Kyrgyzstan begins at age 14, with penalties ranging from 8 to 15 years imprisonment and property confiscation.

Authorities issued a warning regarding the growing involvement of minors and young people in drug distribution via the internet. Parents are strongly urged to monitor their children's social circles, online activities, and communication platforms, and to engage in preventive discussions about the dangers of drug use and involvement.