The key facts

  • Customs authorities lack the technical capability to detect fake IMEI codes, Farhod Olimjonov said on November 11
  • To identify high-risk devices, customs engages specialists from specialized structures
  • The duty-free phone import allowance remains in effect; projects to simplify border registration are being developed

Customs admits it cannot verify IMEI authenticity

Uzbekistan's customs authorities do not have the technical capability to detect fake IMEI codes when clearing mobile phones. This was announced at a press conference on November 11 by the head of a department of the Customs Committee, Farhod Olimjonov, Spot.uz reports. According to him, determining that IMEI1 and IMEI2 codes belong to the same device and that they were previously registered in the network requires special knowledge and qualifications, and customs systems have no such capability at all.

What schemes are used to circumvent import rules

The customs representative noted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to detect schemes that abuse the duty-free import allowance. Among the methods used, he cited falsification of IMEI codes, the use of identifiers belonging to other devices, and registering several phones under the details of a previously registered device.

Cooperation and retention of the benefit

Olimjonov explained that under the law, customs' main task is to check product characteristics affecting customs payments, and determining IMEI codes is not part of the agency's direct responsibility. To identify devices imported by persons with a high risk of evading payments, customs has agreed on cooperation with specialized structures and engages specialists from this field. The duty-free import allowance remains in effect under Article 157 of the Customs Code and a Cabinet of Ministers resolution (PKM-244). According to Olimjonov, joint projects are currently being developed to simplify phone registration at the border; in particular, a reduction of duplicating functions is expected in the coming days.