In the first five months of 2026, Uzbekistan recorded over 760 cases of illegal firearms trafficking, including 15 instances of smuggling. This was announced on June 25 at a press conference by Akmal Ashuraliyev, a responsible official from the Agency for Control of Narcotics and Firearms.

According to Ashuraliyev, uncontrolled weapon circulation poses one of the greatest threats to public safety after drugs. Therefore, since 2025, state control over firearms circulation has been transferred to the agency.

Ashuraliyev noted that most illegal cases detected in Uzbekistan are not linked to organized criminal groups but to unregistered weapons left over from the Soviet era. “In most cases, these are weapons from the Soviet period, with unknown owners or kept as inheritance. They are often found during home renovations or demolitions,” he said.

He urged citizens to voluntarily surrender unregistered weapons to internal affairs bodies. Under current legislation, those who voluntarily surrender weapons are exempt from liability and may receive compensation depending on the weapon's type and condition.

Husan Tangriyev, press secretary of the Customs Committee, stated that the majority of weapons attempted to be brought across the border are pneumatic guns. Since the beginning of the year, customs authorities have prevented 58 attempts to import 58 pneumatic weapons.

Tangriyev said some cases are due to foreign citizens' ignorance of Uzbekistan's weapon regulations. “Often, pneumatic weapons are brought in for interest, sports, or tourism. Some foreigners think they can be freely imported,” he explained.

He also reported that over 600 rounds of ammunition have been confiscated by customs since the start of the year. “Some cases with ammunition are quite interesting. For example, some foreigners wear bullets around their necks as amulets or talismans, believing they protect against misfortune,” Tangriyev added.

Source: www.gazeta.uz