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Officers of the State Security Service of Uzbekistan thwarted an attempt to sell a large batch of historical coins in the capital. The coins in question are known as tsarist rubles, with a total estimated value of nearly 1 billion sums.
The operation was conducted in Tashkent with the involvement of customs officers. During the operation in the Olmazor district, two individuals were apprehended: the seller, A.K., born in 1966, and the buyer, E.S., born in 1963. The seller offered 100 gold coins for $67,000. The arrests were made at the moment of the transaction, and all physical evidence was confiscated. Additionally, a search of the seller’s vehicle revealed 37 more gold coins.
Cultural and Historical Significance of the Coins
According to expert analysis, the coins were identified as cultural and historical treasures. These coins, with face values of 5 and 10 rubles, were minted between 1897 and 1911. Their total weight amounts to 776 grams, with purity levels of 900 and 916. The estimated market value of the coins is 950 million sums.
Plan to Smuggle the Coins to Kyrgyzstan
The investigation revealed that the buyer, E.S., intended to smuggle the coins, known as “Nicholas coins,” to the Osh region of Kyrgyzstan for resale.
Criminal Case Initiated
A criminal case has been opened against the detained individuals under Article 177, Part 4, Clause “a” of the Criminal Code (illegal handling of cultural and historical values). An investigation is underway to uncover all the details of the case and identify any additional suspects.
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