Customs officer in Namangan detained for accepting bribe via bank card

A customs officer in the Namangan region was caught accepting a bribe through a bank card. This was reported by the State Security Service.

According to the report, during operational-search activities, an inspector from the customs control and clearance group of the Uchkurgan border customs post, under the regional Customs Department, promised a resident of Davlatabad district to register 57 iPhone 16 Pro Max devices imported from abroad by IMEI code through a customs officer working at Tashkent International Airport. In return, he demanded $100 for each phone, totaling $5,700. In addition, he requested $400 to refrain from taking action against the citizen for bringing undeclared clothes from abroad.

On July 11 and 14, the inspector received part of the requested sum—11 million 317 thousand soums, equivalent to $900—transferred to his and his relative’s bank cards.

On July 16, while receiving another transfer of 12 million 550 thousand soums, equivalent to $1,000, to his relative’s bank card, he was detained with material evidence by officers of the State Security Service, the Department under the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Customs Committee.

Following the incident, a criminal case was initiated against the customs inspector under Part 3, Clause “v” of Article 168 (fraud) and Part 1 of Article 28,211 (bribery) of the Criminal Code. He has been placed in detention, and investigative actions are ongoing.

It should be noted that earlier in Tashkent, another inspector was arrested for demanding $1,500 in exchange for issuing a driver’s license.