Twenty-seven border officials detained on Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan border

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan conducted a special operation yesterday evening, July 5, at the Kadamjay-Avtodorozhny and Chashma-Avtodorozhny checkpoints in the country’s Batken region, detaining a total of 27 border checkpoint officials. This was reported by 24.kg.

According to reports, at around 19:00, officers of the Batken Regional Department of the State Committee for National Security, together with the Alfa special unit, detained employees of the border service, customs service and veterinary service at two checkpoints on the border with Uzbekistan on suspicion of involvement in corruption.

According to the source, during searches, 38,500 soms and 5,484,000 Uzbek soums were found on border service employees. Another 200,000 Uzbek soums were found in the glove compartment of a JAC-3202 service vehicle. According to the driver, the money had been exchanged in advance to purchase a cover for the vehicle.

In addition, 100,000 soms and cash in U.S. dollars were seized from customs officers. The amount in dollars has not yet been specified.

According to the source, two more employees of the Chashma-Avtodorozhny checkpoint were recorded on surveillance cameras illegally receiving money.

A total of 27 people were detained and taken to the Batken Regional Department of the State Committee for National Security, including 11 servicemen from the Chashma-Avtodorozhny checkpoint and 16 from the Kadamjay-Avtodorozhny checkpoint. Two AK-74 rifles, two magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition were also seized.

During the investigative actions, the operations of both checkpoints were temporarily suspended. According to sources, about 3,000 citizens and 400 vehicles were left waiting in line at that time. Later, traffic through the Kadamjay-Avtodorozhny checkpoint was restored.

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan has not yet issued an official comment on the special operation.

Earlier, it was reported that 24 people, including heads and representatives of ministries and agencies, were detained during a meeting involving former Chairman of the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan Kamchybek Tashiyev.