Individual arrested for attempting to smuggle falcons abroad

The individuals attempting to illegally smuggle eight falcons out of the country have been detained in the Bostanlyk district of Tashkent region, the State Customs Committee reported.

According to the report, during an operation in the district, a person who had been under surveillance was stopped while attempting to cross the state border illegally through the ’’Oqtosh’’ checkpoint.

Upon inspection of the suspect’s bag in accordance with established procedures and in the presence of witnesses, eight live falcons were discovered inside

It was further noted that in order to conceal the smuggling attempt, the birds had been subjected to cruel treatment, their eyes and legs were tied, their wings taped, and they were tightly packed into a small bag.

The specialists from the Tashkent regional department of Ecology, environmental protection and climate change stated that these falcons are listed in Uzbekistan’s Red book of endangered species. The birds have since been handed over to the Tashkent zoo.

The customs authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the incident.

It is worth noting that earlier, a man who had illegally kept rare falcons was fined more than 620 million soums in Tashkent region.