A "secret workshop" engaged in gold mining in Navoi has been exposed...

Photo: Frame from video

During an оператив measure conducted by the State Security Service and internal affairs bodies, the activity of an organized group engaged in the illegal extraction of gold-bearing ores from state reserve lands and their chemical processing was stopped.

According to investigative data, the group was led by a person born in 1988, living in Pakhтаchi district of Samarkand region. He rented a building of a poultry farm in Karmana district of Navoi region and set up a hidden production workshop there.

During the operational actions, the following were seized as material evidence: 200 kg of semi-processed gold, 200 sacks of sand and stones containing gold-bearing material, 300 kg of chemical reagents, special laboratory equipment, gas cylinders, and other technical equipment.

In addition, in another case identified in Navbahor district, the head of a local LLC, on the basis of a fake permit, organized illegal gold mining in the territory of the “Sarmishsay” state museum-reserve, involving 19 individuals.

In this case, 6 kg of semi-processed gold, more than 430 tons of gold-bearing ore, chemical substances, cargo trucks, and special machinery were confiscated. According to preliminary calculations, the extracted natural resources caused damage worth 6.1 billion soums.

Currently, criminal cases have been initiated in both cases and investigative actions are ongoing. At the same time, the amount of environmental damage caused to nature is being determined.