18:12, 10 September 2026, Bishkek – 24.kg news agency

, by Turdubek AIGYROV

A foreign national identified as R.I.A. was detained at Osh International Airport on suspicion of smuggling a large shipment of Esse Change cigarettes, the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) reported.

The special operation was carried out on September 6 jointly with officers of the State Customs Service. The detainee was placed in the SCNS pretrial detention center for the duration of the investigation.

According to the agency, the man traveled by air through third countries in an attempt to conceal the illegal shipment. From Osh, he allegedly planned to transport the goods by land to a neighboring country.

A criminal case was opened under Article 231 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, «Economic smuggling.» The amount of damage caused to the state budget is being established. The SCNS did not disclose the quantity or value of the seized cigarettes.

SCNS officers continue to identify other possible participants in the scheme.