Customs officer detained for attempting to smuggle 7 kg of gold across border

The inspector, who worked at the “Navoi” border customs post under the Tashkent regional customs department, allegedly promised a resident of Tashkent district that he could move the gold through the checkpoint without declaring it or undergoing customs control. He was arrested in Chirchik while receiving $5,000 in exchange for the service.

According to the SSS, the operation was carried out jointly with the Customs Committee’s Department of Internal Security and the Tashkent city prosecutor’s office as part of broader anti-corruption efforts. The officer has been charged under Article 210 (taking a bribe), Part 2, paragraph “v” of the Criminal Code and has been placed in custody.

The SSS also reported separate corruption cases involving tax officials in the capital.

In one case, the chief inspector of a division at the Shaykhantakhur district tax inspectorate allegedly demanded $2,500 from a wholesale food company, claiming he could use his high-level connections to have the business shut down. He was detained outside the tax inspectorate building while accepting the money. A criminal case has been opened under Article 168 (fraud), Part 3, paragraph “v,” and Articles 28 and 211 (bribery), Part 1 of the Criminal Code.

In another incident, an inspector from the Mirabad district tax inspectorate was detained after accepting UZS 10 million, transferred to his bank card. He is accused of taking the bribe in exchange for refraining from conducting tax inspections at a shop under his jurisdiction and for warning the owner in advance about any planned checks.

The SSS said the cases highlight ongoing efforts to curb corruption within customs and tax authorities.