Uzbekistan Seizes Nearly 600 Illegal Weapons in 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Since the beginning of 2026, law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan have identified more than 7,500 violations of weapons-related legislation and seized 598 units of illegal firearms and around 3,200 rounds of ammunition, according to the Agency for Control of Drugs and Firearms under the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The agency said the effectiveness of efforts to prevent, detect, and suppress violations has significantly improved due to strengthened interagency cooperation coordinated by the authority.

A total of 264 criminal cases have been initiated based on the identified offenses. The highest number of violations was recorded in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, with 44 cases, followed by the Fergana region with 39 cases. The lowest figures were reported in the Jizzakh and Khorezm regions, each with five cases.

According to the agency, more than 48,000 citizens in Uzbekistan currently hold permits for the storage and use of hunting weapons, and their activities are under continuous state monitoring.

As part of anti-poaching efforts, law enforcement agencies and relevant services conducted around 2,000 raids since the beginning of the year. These inspections uncovered 575 violations of environmental and hunting regulations, including 55 cases of illegal hunting of wildlife.

The highest number of poaching incidents was recorded in the Kashkadarya and Khorezm regions, with 12 cases each.

Total environmental damage caused by illegal hunting was estimated at 4.3 billion soums, with nearly half of the losses attributed to the Kashkadarya and Tashkent regions.

The agency also reported that as a result of awareness-raising and preventive measures, citizens voluntarily surrendered 433 firearms and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Authorities said this reflects a growing level of legal awareness and civic responsibility.

Officials emphasized that ongoing measures are aimed at strengthening state control over weapons circulation, ensuring public safety, and preventing illegal activity in the sector.