Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Embezzlements in the amount of 2.8 billion soums were identified in August in Samarkand region as a result of the illegal use of natural gas, the press service of Hududgaz Samarqand reported.

"This amount of natural gas corresponds to 6 months of gas consumption by approximately 24,000 households," the report says.

Violations were revealed in the course of regular joint activities of the Department for Control of Natural Gas Supplies to Legal Entities, the Department for the Rational Use of Material Resources and the Implementation of Anti-Corruption Policy, and the regional administration "Khududgaz Metrology".

As a result of inspections in August, 12 cases of illegal connection to the gas network of a number of industries were identified and disconnected from the network. All collected materials were transferred to law enforcement agencies.