“Kontexnazorat” Inspection Conducts Internal Investigations at Sites in Bukhara and Navoi Regions
2025-10-08 12:30:00 / News
In particular, as part of the implementation of Presidential and Cabinet of Ministers’ directives, and in line with efforts to combat the shadow economy, internal investigations are being carried out in the territorial departments of the Inspection in accordance with the Roadmap for Eliminating Corruption Factors and Creating an Anti-Corruption Environment in the Mining and Geology Sector.
A working group composed of the leadership and responsible officers of the Inspection conducted internal investigations in the Bukhara and Navoi regions.
During these investigations, cases of unauthorised and illegal gold extraction organised by third parties — without the knowledge of the company — were uncovered on the territories of LLC “Oltin Kon”, located in the Kuljuqtau mountain range (Shofirkon district, Bukhara region) and the Taushan range (Kanimekh district, Navoi region).
The materials related to these findings were handed over to law-enforcement bodies, which carried out operational search measures. As a result, 37 individuals involved in the illegal extraction of minerals were detained in the Kuljuqtau area.
During the operation, the following items were seized as physical evidence: three Ford vehicles, eight perforators, six compressors, around 400 sacks of gold-bearing ore, and various makeshift equipment. Damage caused to the interests of the state and society by this unlawful activity is estimated at over 20 billion soums.
At present, a criminal case has been initiated under paragraph “b”, part 2 of article 196² of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (“Artisanal extraction of minerals without authorisation”), and investigative proceedings are ongoing.