Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has disciplined 29 customs officers for violations involving mobile device clearance and IMEI registration in 2025–2026, Farhod Olimjonov, head of a department at the Customs Committee, said at a press conference on 11 November.
During the period, the committee conducted 21 internal investigations and held individual preventive discussions with another 67 employees. Olimjonov also confirmed that criminal cases had been opened against several customs officers.
He said the committee identifies misconduct among its own employees, including through information systems. The digitalisation of procedures allows the authorities to track employees’ actions and detect suspicious transactions.
Olimjonov said that identifying illegal actions by staff did not mean the committee’s management would protect those involved. The agency takes appropriate measures whenever violations are found.
Criminal cases involving customs officers
Journalists at the press conference raised the issue of criminal proceedings against employees at customs posts at Tashkent International Airport. One participant referred to reports that criminal cases had been opened against more than 200 employees.
The journalist also questioned whether it was justified to hold individual inspectors responsible if the problems stemmed from shortcomings in the system for checking IMEI codes.
Customs Committee representatives did not confirm the figure cited by the journalist. They also declined to disclose the exact number of criminal cases, the allegations brought against employees or the circumstances of the investigations.
Sherzod Khamidov, first deputy head of the specialised Tashkent-AERO customs complex, said the agency supported employees who performed their duties conscientiously.
However, he stressed that every employee must be held accountable under the law for any illegal actions. Asked about the specific allegations against customs officers, he said he could not yet provide details.
Olimjonov added that customs authorities themselves could identify grounds for opening criminal cases.
At the same time, he acknowledged that not all employees performed their duties conscientiously.
Who is responsible for checking IMEI codes?
Journalists also asked whether customs officers or the UZIMEI mobile device registration system operator were responsible for verifying the authenticity of IMEI codes and comparing them with information in customs declarations.
Olimjonov referred to Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 778 of 17 September 2019, which regulates the procedure for registering mobile devices.
According to him, the resolution assigns the verification, registration, comparison and identification of IMEI codes directly to the operator of the mobile device registration system.
The Customs Committee representative stressed that regulations did not impose a direct obligation on customs officers to establish the authenticity of these identifiers.
Customs authorities are responsible for checking the characteristics of goods and vehicles that determine the amount of customs duties and other payments. For example, when an iPhone is imported, inspectors determine the applicable payments for the device.
Verifying the authenticity of IMEI codes, however, falls within the remit of the specialised system operator. Despite this division of responsibilities, customs authorities continue to work with UZIMEI and carry out their duties.
When automated IMEI checks became available
The technical capabilities available to customs inspectors came under particular scrutiny after schemes involving the falsification of IMEI codes were uncovered.
Social media reports said that employees of the customs service had been detained by the Department under the General Prosecutor’s Office on suspicion of involvement in violations. Other employees were reportedly summoned for questioning.
The reports raised concerns among customs officers. According to a source cited in the reports, employees feared criminal prosecution for failing to detect forged identifiers despite lacking the necessary equipment.
The same source said the situation had negatively affected employees’ willingness to report for duty. Customs officers could compare the information displayed on a device with the details on its packaging, while verifying the authenticity of an IMEI code was the responsibility of the specialised UZIMEI operator.
Asked about the technical equipment available to inspectors, Olimjonov said the Customs Committee and UZIMEI had signed an agreement to integrate their information systems in December 2024. The connection was introduced in stages.
In July 2025, automated matching of IMEI codes with device models became available when processing cargo customs declarations. The same capability was introduced for passenger declarations in February 2026.
If the system detects a discrepancy, it sends an alert to the inspector. For example, if a declaration lists a Redmi model but the IMEI identifier corresponds to an iPhone, the employee receives a warning about the mismatch and must respond.
However, representatives of the committee acknowledged at the same press conference that the available technical tools could not establish in every case whether IMEI-1 and IMEI-2 belonged to the same device, whether the identifiers had been altered or whether they had previously been used on a mobile network.
Mobile phone clearance at Tashkent airport
On 10 November, the Customs Committee temporarily suspended the clearance of newly imported mobile phones at Tashkent International Airport. The decision followed the discovery of complex schemes involving the illegal import of devices using forged or other people’s IMEI codes.
During the first ten months of 2026, the specialised Tashkent-AERO customs complex detected 185 cases involving the illegal import of 1,185 mobile phones. The devices had a combined value of 8.8bn soums.
Customs clearance of mobile phones resumed on 11 November. UZIMEI specialists were assigned to maintain a permanent presence at the airport to help customs officers check suspicious IMEI codes and provide practical assistance.
