Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The State Security Service of Uzbekistan has prevented an attempted theft of a semi-finished product with a high gold content, committed by employees of the Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Company (NGMK).

At the 3rd Hydrometallurgical Plant of the Northern Ore Management Department, two shift supervisors and one operator, acting in concert with the intent of unlawful enrichment, premeditated the theft. They concealed a semi-finished product weighing 2.5 kilograms, containing a significant amount of gold, inside the plant’s ventilation system.

During operational and investigative measures carried out by the State Security Service Department for Navoi Region in cooperation with internal affairs authorities, the criminal actions were intercepted.

Expert analysis determined that the semi-finished product contained 1 kilogram and 523 grams of pure gold, valued at approximately 2.102 billion Uzbek soums.

A criminal case has been initiated under Articles 25 and Part 4 of Article 169, paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Investigative actions are currently ongoing.