The key facts

  • Customs clearance of mobile devices at Tashkent airport has been temporarily suspended until issues with IMEI identification are settled
  • Since the beginning of 2026, the illegal import of 1,185 phones worth 8.8 billion soums has been prevented
  • According to media reports, the tightened IMEI checks have already led to iPhone price increases of 50–400 dollars at the Malika market

What happened

The Customs Committee of Uzbekistan reported that customs clearance of mobile devices imported through Tashkent International Airport has been temporarily suspended. The restriction remains in effect until issues related to determining IMEI identifiers and confirming the lawful import of devices are resolved.

The reason: IMEI code forgery

The committee explained the measure by increasingly frequent violations involving the removal of phones from under customs control: forging IMEI codes, using identifiers belonging to other devices, and legalizing some handsets through the data of others. According to the committee, since the beginning of the year the specialized customs complex Tashkent-AERO has prevented the illegal import of 1,185 mobile phones with a total value of 8.8 billion soums.

What has already changed and what remains unclear

It was previously reported that IMEI checks on smartphones imported into Uzbekistan through airports had been tightened. According to available information, phones worth more than 1,000 dollars could be taken for expert examination for up to 30 days, which, according to reports, led to price increases of 50–400 dollars for a number of iPhone models at the Malika consumer electronics market in Tashkent. The legal grounds and the mechanism for applying the new procedure nevertheless raised questions. The Customs Committee stated that, together with the relevant agencies, it is working on measures to clarify the procedures for checking and clearing phones; the situation is expected to become clearer in the near future and clearance to resume.