SSS prevents large-scale currency smuggling at border with Tajikistan

In the first incident, a 35-year-old resident of Bekabad orchestrated the smuggling operation by dividing the funds into smaller portions and distributing them among 34 individuals acting as couriers. The concealed amounts included:

• 18,680,300 Russian rubles (approximately $234,600);
• 140,700 Tajik somoni (approximately $15,000);
• UZS 180 million (approximately $14,800).

The group was intercepted by law enforcement officers as they attempted to cross the border. The incident was fully documented in line with procedural protocols.

In a separate case, officers conducting a routine inspection of a Tracker vehicle owned by another Bekabad resident discovered cash meticulously bundled and hidden within the vehicle. The seized currencies comprised:

• 13,538,305 Russian rubles (approximately $170,000);
• 24,107 Tajik somoni (approximately $2,585);
• 885 euros (approximately $1,028);
• $300;
• 300 Chinese yuan (approximately $42);
• 6,840 Kyrgyz soms (approximately $78);
• UZS 10,207,000 (approximately $841).

A criminal case has been opened against the vehicle owner under Article 182, Part 2, Paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code, which addresses violations of customs regulations on an especially large scale. The suspect has been placed in pre-trial detention.

The SSS confirmed that the combined value of the confiscated cash from both operations exceeded UZS 5.2 billion. Ongoing investigations aim to identify the true owners of the funds and any broader networks involved.

In a statement emphasizing accountability, the SSS reiterated: “The rule of law is the foundation of any democratic society. Those who violate it will face inevitable consequences. Every citizen is obligated to uphold the nation’s laws to avoid finding themselves in the defendant’s seat.”