Secret fuel smuggling tunnel discovered between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Authorities in Kazakhstan have uncovered a 450-meter-long tunnel used for smuggling fuel and lubricants into Uzbekistan, according to a statement by the Turkistan Regional Prosecutor's Office. The tunnel was operated by a transnational criminal group, which has now been dismantled.

The tunnel, located along the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border, facilitated the illegal transport of 5 to 7 tons of fuel daily. The illicit operation reportedly lasted for nearly two months.

The prosecutor's office also revealed that a scheme for transferring payments from Uzbekistan for the smuggled fuel was identified. Those involved in the scheme included individuals from both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

“Members of the transnational criminal group were apprehended in both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. All suspects have been identified, and investigations are ongoing,” the prosecutor's office stated.

Law enforcement agencies are conducting a pre-trial investigation to uncover further details about the operation and its participants.