The State Security Service (SSS) of Uzbekistan has officially announced the arrest of an inspector in the Tashkent Region for abuse of power. The inspector from the Tashkent Regional Directorate of the Agency for Plant Quarantine and Protection demanded 20 million soums from a citizen in exchange for facilitating the passage of mineral fertilizer products belonging to the citizen through the "Navoi" border customs post.

The case involves 7 types, totaling 187 packages of mineral fertilizer products. This incident was uncovered during an operational measure conducted by SSS personnel in cooperation with the Personal Security Directorate of the Customs Committee. The inspector was apprehended with material evidence while receiving the demanded funds in the Almazar District of Tashkent City.

A criminal case has been initiated against him, and a custodial restraint measure has been applied. Investigative actions are ongoing. This event highlights the activity of state bodies in combating corruption, yet simultaneously raises serious concerns about ongoing abuses by officials, pointing to systemic vulnerabilities in oversight mechanisms.

Previously in Tashkent, an inspector from the Main Directorate for Emergency Situations (MDES) was arrested after promising to issue a positive conclusion regarding a private clinic's fire safety condition and receiving 6.5 million soums. He was caught while returning the money. A criminal case was also initiated against that inspector, with custodial restraint applied. These cases reveal the pervasiveness of corruption across different sectors and underscore persistent weaknesses in governmental control and accountability frameworks.

Source: www.gazeta.uz