A 48-year-old resident of the Tajik northern city of Istaravshan has been detained at the airport of Khujand, the capital of the Tajik northern province of Sughd, on suspicion of trying to smuggle rare coins, according to the Interior Ministry’s website.   

A customs inspection of passengers on the Khujand-Irkutsk flight reportedly found 180 rare coins of numismatic and cultural value in his luggage.  

Criminal proceedings have been instituted against alleged smuggler under the provisions of Article 289 of Tajikistan’s Penal Code – smuggling; an investigation is under way.