In the last 3 years, customs authorities have identified nearly 40 cases related to the attempted smuggling of wild animals and plants through customs checkpoints. As a result, there were attempts to smuggle approximately 350 wild birds, about 600 various wild animals, nearly 100 animal horns, skins, and similar items, and even more regrettably, about 7.7 thousand various wild plants and over 10 thousand insects. It should be noted that many more cases of attempted import are detected. "We have witnessed attempts to bring even the rarest animals listed in the world's Red Book into the Republic," says the head of the information service of the Customs Committee.
The rare animals that are caught are handed over by the Customs authorities to the Tashkent Zoo.
"Unfortunately, there have been attempts to illegally import rare animals by hiding them inside luggage, in aircraft cargo holds, concealed among fruits, and tightly packed into travel bags. One can say that these situations represent a cruel treatment of the animals. There are even animals that have perished as a result of such importation," concluded Khusan Tangriyev.
Following the CITES CoP20 conference, cooperation between the Customs and the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change will be further strengthened and processes will be digitalized.
