Over 132,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes destroyed in Tashkent

The event at a factory in Tashkent's Yangihayot district, attended by members of the public, was organized by the State Customs Committee in cooperation with the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement.

The confiscated tobacco products were seized as part of nine separate violations. For example, 76,500 packs of Milano-brand cigarettes, produced abroad, were intercepted by officers at the specialized customs complex "Tashkent-AERO."

The investigation revealed that a previously monitored citizen, B.K., had illegally stored these smuggled cigarettes, which had been brought in from neighboring countries for resale. The batch was valued at 1 billion UZS, and the court sentenced the individual to 7 years and 1 month in prison.

As part of Uzbekistan's declared "Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy," authorities took extra precautions to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable waste disposal during the destruction process.

Before incineration, the paper packaging was separated from the tobacco. The cigarettes and polyethylene materials were destroyed in specialized furnaces, while the paper packaging was weighed and handed over to recycling facilities.