Jewelry firm employee caught selling illicit gold and silver worth billions in Tashkent region

The operation was carried out in Zangiota district by officers from the State Security Service, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes under the General Prosecutor's Office, and customs authorities.

According to investigators, the suspect, a 34-year-old resident of Tashkent, was caught during an undercover operation while trying to sell 13 silver bullion bars weighing a total of 10 kilograms and 35 grams for $20,800. Experts later valued the silver at UZS 235.2 million.

The detained man was found to be an employee of a jewelry manufacturing company. Although the firm was officially registered to produce jewelry, investigators say it was also operating an unauthorized facility for processing gold and silver without the required licenses.

A subsequent search of the company's premises uncovered a much larger stockpile of precious metals. Authorities seized an additional 58 kilograms of silver and 2.2 kilograms of gold, with the confiscated metals estimated to be worth UZS 3.48 billion.

In total, law enforcement officers confiscated more than 68 kilograms of silver and 2.2 kilograms of gold during the operation.

A criminal case has been opened, and investigators are working to determine the full extent of the alleged illegal refining and distribution network.