Attempt to illegally import 197 sea turtles into Uzbekistan

The Environmental and Technical Supervision Service under the Ministry of Nature of Kyrgyzstan reported that on April 30, Kyrgyz border guards at the "Dostuk" checkpoint detained an Uzbek citizen attempting to illegally bring 197 sea turtles into Uzbekistan. The individual lacked the necessary documentation for transporting the animals. An administrative protocol was drawn up against the violator, and a fine of 20,000 soms (approximately 3 million Uzbek soms) was imposed.

The confiscated turtles were temporarily handed over to a private zoo located in the Navoi Recreation Park in the city of Osh.

Earlier, in early April, a similar incident occurred at the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. At that time, around a hundred sea turtles were found in a Kyrgyz citizen's backpack. According to him, an unknown Uzbek citizen had asked him to transport the animals across the border.