Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Incidents of corruption involving officials in the education, customs, environmental protection, and emergency services sectors have been revealed in Tashkent and the Samarkand region.

During a special operation conducted by the State Security Service in cooperation with the Department under the General Prosecutor’s Office, the head of a district department for school and preschool education in the capital was caught red-handed receiving US$3,000 from a history teacher. In return, he had promised to assist in appointing the teacher as a school director.

In another case, a customs inspector at the Yangiyul customs post in Tashkent region was detained while receiving US$2,700 through an intermediary. He had pledged to allow a commercial company importing and processing Kazakh wheat to move wagons through customs without inspection or formal procedures.

In the Samarkand region, the head of the emergency department of Jambay district was caught demanding US$200 from a private kindergarten in exchange for issuing a positive fire safety report.

Additionally, the head of the environmental department in Pakhachi district was arrested for accepting US$2,000 in return for providing an environmental assessment and permission to extract gravel.

Criminal cases have been initiated against all suspects under Article 210 of the Criminal Code. All individuals have been placed in pre-trial detention, and investigations are ongoing.