An inspector from the Tashkent regional Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection was detained in Uzbekistan while he was receiving a 20 million soum bribe.

The operation was carried out by the State Security Service in coordination with the Customs Committee. A court has already ordered the suspect to be held in pre-trial detention, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

According to investigators, the official extorted money from a 31-year-old citizen in exchange for facilitating the illegal passage of a large shipment of mineral fertilizers through the “Navoi” border customs post. The cargo reportedly consisted of 187 packages of seven different types of fertilizers.

The suspect was caught red-handed in the Almazar district of Tashkent during the handover of the full amount.

A criminal case has been opened, and investigative actions are currently underway to establish all the circumstances of the case.