Security officers seized illegal goods

Uzbekistan’s State Security Service and the Customs Committee said they uncovered a large stock of illegally imported goods in Tashkent during a joint special operation. The seized cargo was valued at 33.5 billion soums, and officials said most of it consisted of nearly 2 million packs of tobacco products without excise stamps. Reports Podrobno.uz.

Investigators also found more than 800 kilograms of food products that had been brought into the country in violation of established rules. According to the authorities, the tenants of the warehouses had officially declared their business as the sale of auto parts and the provision of services to the public. In reality, the storage sites were allegedly being used to hide goods that had bypassed customs control.

A criminal case has been opened, and the investigation is continuing. Officials also reminded the public that suspected customs-related violations can be reported confidentially through the short number 1520. Earlier, customs officers in Tashkent said they had removed another illegal batch of tobacco products from circulation after nearly 44,000 packs of cigarettes without excise stamps were found in the Sergeli district.