Men Arrested in Tashkent for Attempting to Sell $67,000 Worth of Antique Gold Coins
Two Men Arrested in Tashkent for Trying to Sell Antique Gold Coins
Law enforcement authorities in Tashkent have made a significant bust, arresting two men who were caught attempting to sell a collection of 100 antique gold coins for $67,000. The valuable coins, weighing a total of 776 grams and minted between 1897 and 1911, were set to be smuggled into Kyrgyzstan for further sale.
The State Security Service (SSS) and customs officials collaborated on a joint operation that led to the apprehension of two individuals: A.H., a resident of Tashkent’s Almazar district, and E.S., a resident of Andijan. A.H., born in 1966, was in the process of selling the coins to E.S., born in 1963, when they were caught in the act.
During a search of A.H.’s vehicle, authorities uncovered an additional 37 gold coins. The coins, with denominations of 5 and 10 rubles and purities of 900 and 916, hold both historical and artistic significance and are valued at approximately 950 million UZS.
It was revealed that E.S. had intended to transport the coins, known as “Nikolaev” coins, to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, in order to sell them.
Both suspects are facing criminal charges under Article 177, part 4, section “a” of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, which deals with the illegal acquisition or sale of foreign currency in large amounts. The investigation into the case is currently ongoing.
This operation serves as a reminder of the importance of cracking down on illegal activities involving valuable cultural artifacts and the necessity of safeguarding these treasures for future generations.
