Four jailed in cross-border smuggling case via secret tunnel linking Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan

In March 2024, officers from the State Security Service's Andijan regional department uncovered a secret underground tunnel connecting the “A. Navoi” neighborhood in the city of Khanabad, Andijan region, with the village of Bekobod in Suzak district, Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan.

Photo: Frame from the video

The tunnel was used by an organized criminal group to smuggle goods into and out of Uzbekistan.

A Kyrgyz citizen was caught red-handed attempting to smuggle 812 mobile phones worth 5.95 billion UZS into Uzbekistan and 1.73 kilograms of low-grade gold items valued at 1.56 billion UZS out of the country. These items were seized as physical evidence.

The operation expanded to addresses linked to the smuggler’s three Uzbek accomplices, who lived in the city of Andijan and in the Altinkul district. Authorities seized 1,380 mobile phones worth a total of 2.84 billion UZS, along with 32 headphones, 920 adapters, 338 USB-C cables, and 40 chargers. All items were documented and confiscated in accordance with procedural regulations.

The underground tunnel was located at a depth of 18–20 meters. It measured 60–70 cm in width, 170–180 cm in height, and 300–350 meters in length.

The investigation revealed that the criminal group was led by the Kyrgyz citizen, who had assigned specific roles to each member. A separate criminal case has been opened against him.

The Andijan City Criminal Court found the Kyrgyz national guilty under Articles 182 and 223 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code and sentenced him to six years in prison. Three Uzbek nationals were found guilty under Article 182 and each sentenced to five years in prison.

In accordance with the court ruling, all smuggled goods and the house in Khanabad where the tunnel originated were confiscated by the state. The tunnel itself was sealed and destroyed.

Additionally, a second underground tunnel discovered in another house in the same neighborhood was also destroyed per court order. That house and the items seized from it were confiscated for the benefit of the state. The Uzbek national involved in that case was also sentenced to five years in prison.

The investigation further revealed that the smuggled mobile phones had been distributed for sale in shopping centers in Andijan and Tashkent. Authorities are currently conducting further inquiries into this distribution network.

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