Individuals caught smuggling 1.1 billion soums worth of gold into Uzbekistan

Authorities in Namangan Region have apprehended individuals who illegally brought gold worth 1.1 billion soums across the border into Uzbekistan, the State Security Service reported.

According to the information, a joint operation conducted by the Namangan Regional Directorate of the State Security Service, the Border Troops, and the regional internal affairs department in Kosonsoy district intercepted the illegal trade of precious metals smuggled from neighboring Kyrgyzstan via bypass routes.

Specifically, a resident of Kosonsoy district, born in 1996, following instructions from his uncle, born in 1988, illegally crossed the state border from Kyrgyzstan into Uzbekistan carrying gold ingot fragments with a total weight of 1 kilogram 168 grams, estimated to be worth 1.1 billion soums.

During the operation, the suspect was caught handing over the gold to another relative residing in the district. A criminal case has been opened under Article 182, Part 2, Clauses “a” and “b” of the Criminal Code (violating customs legislation), and Article 223, Part 2, Clause “b” (illegal exit from or entry into Uzbekistan), and investigative actions are underway.

It is worth noting that earlier, in Kattakurgan district of Samarkand Region, individuals were caught smuggling gold weighing 472 grams, valued at 740 million soums.