People trying to sell 18 kg of silver were detained in Samarkand

In the Samarkand region, the activities of individuals involved in illegal silver trading have been stopped, according to official sources.

During an operational event held in the Narpay district, officers of the State Security Service of the Samarkand region detained three residents of the Navoi region — born in 1980, 1983, and 1987 — red-handed while attempting to sell 18 kilograms of silver to a “conditional buyer” for 21,000 US dollars.

According to the conclusion of the Assay Control Inspection under the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the pure weight of the seized metal was 16 kilograms and 744 grams, with a fineness of “999.” Its total estimated value exceeds 502 million soums.

A criminal case has been initiated against the individuals under Article 177, Part 4, Paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code. Investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the silver.

Local sources note that in recent months, the number of illegal operations involving precious metals has increased, leading to tighter control by law enforcement agencies.