More than 120 violations related to the supply of liquefied gas were identified during nationwide raids conducted in Uzbekistan between October 19 and 21, according to the State Security Service (SSS). The operations resulted in the seizure of more than 3,000 illegally handled gas cylinders containing a total of 13,636 kilograms of liquefied gas. Employees of gas supply organizations were directly involved in 39 of the identified violations.
The raids were conducted jointly by the State Security Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor General's Office, Ministry of Emergency Situations and Uzenergoinspeksiya. According to the SSS, the inspections uncovered cases involving the illegal storage and sale of liquefied gas cylinders across several regions. More than 3,000 cylinders and the 13,636 kilograms of liquefied gas contained in them were seized as material evidence.
In Jizzakh region, authorities identified nine cases involving the illegal storage of 239 gas cylinders intended for sale. Among the cases, a former high-ranking official of the Zomin District Gas Supply Department was found to have secretly stored 152 gas cylinders at a relative's residence. In Syrdarya region's Khovos district, authorities seized 30 gas cylinders from the home of an official employed by the district gas department. The cylinders were being stored without the required documentation.
In Samarkand region, a security guard at the Urgut District gas-filling station was apprehended while attempting to sell three gas-filled cylinders for UZS 2.5mn (over $200). In a separate case, authorities discovered 22 gas-filled cylinders at the residence of a person born in 1972 in Past Dargom district. According to the investigation, the resident had purchased the cylinders from a driver employed by the district gas department for UZS 70,000 (around $6) each.
The cylinders were subsequently being resold to members of the public for UZS 100,000 (over $4) each. In Fergana region's Qoshtepa district, an engineer and a mechanic employed by the local gas department were found to have stored eight gas cylinders at their homes. The cylinders were intended for public use but had been kept for illegal sale.
In Surkhandarya region, authorities documented a total of 65 illegally stored gas cylinders. One case involved a 39-year-old resident of Bandikhon district who had purchased 32 cylinders from a district gas department driver for UZS 70,000 each. According to the SSS, the resident intended to resell the cylinders at a higher price.
In Navoi region's Khatirchi district, authorities seized 26 gas cylinders from the residence of a driver employed by the local gas department. Similar violations were also identified in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and the Khorezm and Namangan regions, among other areas. The SSS stated that inspections targeting violations in the supply and distribution of liquefied gas will continue. Citizens can report suspected violations by contacting the State Security Service through the short telephone number 1520.
Earlier, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Energy announced that it had taken complaints concerning the supply of liquefied gas under review. Among the complaints were reports that residents of Quva district in Fergana region had not received gas cylinder deliveries for 100 days. The ministry stated that the reported delivery delays and quality of service would be investigated.