Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — An attempt to sell counterfeit banknotes was thwarted in the Gijduvan district of the Bukhara region, according to a press release from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).

Law enforcement authorities arrested a resident of Chirchik, who was attempting to sell 6,644 counterfeit 20,000-sum banknotes, totaling 132.8 million soums, for 3,000 US dollars.

In addition, he planned to sell aluminum rods, plastic bags, and packaging paper used for producing the counterfeit money.

The suspect stated that he had purchased the counterfeit banknotes from a resident of the Akhangaran district of the Tashkent region.

Two men were arrested in the Akhangaran district for producing the counterfeit banknotes in a rented apartment. They printed counterfeit 100,000-sum banknotes on a color printer. During a search, 28.3 million counterfeit soums, a banknote cutting device, and other items were seized.

Criminal charges have been filed against the detainees under Article 176, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for the manufacturing and sale of counterfeit currency, excise stamps, or securities in large amounts by a group of individuals in collusion. An investigation is underway.