Person attempting to sell fake $150,000 in Syrdarya detained

A 27-year-old man has been arrested in the Syrdarya region for attempting to sell counterfeit $150,000 for $30,000, the State Security Service reported.

According to the agency, in a joint operation by the Syrdarya regional department of the State Security Service and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, a citizen born in 1998 and residing in Oqoltin district was caught red-handed while selling fake banknotes for genuine $30,000 to an undercover buyer.

It was revealed that, based on a ruling issued by the Yangier City Criminal Court in December 2024, the man had previously been found guilty under Articles 168 (Fraud) and 176 (Counterfeiting money, excise stamps, or securities, and their circulation) of the Criminal Code, sentenced to 1 year and 10 months in prison, and is currently serving that sentence.

During the pre-investigation inspection, it was established that he had obtained the counterfeit banknotes, smuggled from Kazakhstan, from a citizen residing in the city of Chirchiq, Tashkent region.

A new criminal case has been initiated against the suspect under Article 176, Part 3, Paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code (Counterfeiting money, excise stamps, or securities, and their circulation), and the preventive measure of detention has been applied. Measures are currently being taken to apprehend his accomplices.

Earlier, a 22-year-old citizen was arrested in the city of Kokand, Ferghana region, for possessing counterfeit 315.5 million soums and $120,000 with the intent to circulate them.