Individuals smuggling gold jewelry worth 20 billion soums detained

Two individuals accused of illegally smuggling more than 19 kilograms of gold jewelry from Kyrgyzstan into Uzbekistan have been detained, the State Security Service (SSS) reported.

The operation was carried out as part of ongoing efforts to protect Uzbekistan’s state borders and combat the smuggling of goods and materials. It was conducted jointly by the SSS Border Troops and officers from the Fergana Regional Department.

Authorities detained two residents of the Fergana district, born in 1991 and 1993. The suspects were found in possession of gold jewelry weighing 19 kilograms and 119 grams, with an estimated value of 20 billion soums. The items had been smuggled across the border from Kyrgyzstan and were seized as material evidence.

The seized jewelry has been sent for examination, and the initiation of a criminal case is under consideration.

Earlier, a separate smuggling attempt was uncovered at the Navoi border customs post in the Tashkent region, where a man was detained for attempting to conceal jewelry in his genitals while entering the country.