A criminal case was initiated against eight employees of the Regional Customs Directorate in Sughd Province for negligence, abuse of official authority, and complicity in a crime. After the court imposed fines, all of them were completely dismissed from their positions.

Ikrom Fayozzoda, head of the personnel department of the Regional Customs Directorate in Sughd, announced this at a press conference.

According to him, the crimes committed by these eight employees were uncovered by the Sughd Directorate of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS), the regional office of the Anti-Corruption Agency, and the Sughd Prosecutor’s Office.

Fayozzoda stated that criminal cases were initiated under various charges:

  • Ziyoratsho Safarov and Bakhtiyor Khojiyev were prosecuted for negligence (Article 322, Part 2);
  • Ulugbek Eshonqulov, Mirzo Rustamov, Akram Mirzoev, and Ilhom Abdumavlonov were charged with abuse of power (Article 316, Part 1);
  • Mardon Komron was prosecuted for complicity in a crime (Articles 36 and 391).

All of them were fined by the court and subsequently dismissed from their positions and, consequently, from the customs authorities.

Ikrom Fayozzoda did not specify the exact nature of the crimes committed by the customs officials.

He also reported that in 2024, a total of 22 employees of the Regional Customs Directorate in Sughd were dismissed:

  • 8 employees by court ruling;
  • 7 employees upon reaching retirement age;
  • 5 employees resigned voluntarily;
  • 1 employee due to death;
  • 1 employee for failing to properly fulfill official duties.

It is worth noting that a similar large-scale dismissal of customs officials in Sughd occurred in 2020. Five years ago, 30 employees, some with 20–25 years of experience, were dismissed due to failing certification exams, criminal convictions, and other professional shortcomings.