Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 1
By Demir Azizov - Trend:
The management of the customs office of Uzbekistan's Tashkent province were detained on charges of bribery, a representative of Uzbek law enforcement bodies told Trend Oct. 1.
He said Uzbekistan's special services arrested several senior employees of the management of Tashkent Province State Customs Committee (SCC) on suspicion of bribery.
The head of the province's customs committee, Colonel of Customs Service Sirojiddin Gulamov and four of his employees are being charged under several articles of the country's criminal code, the rep said.
According to the source, an investigation is underway for the cases of extortion by customs employees against the businessmen and individuals crossing borders, the facts of appointment to positions after bribery, and organization of a criminal group to collect money.
In June, 2014 the Uzbek National Security Service (NSS) held a special operation to prevent the penetration of smuggled goods into the country.
During the operation the NSS arrested about 100 employees of various departments of the State Customs Committee.