Passengers at airports in Uzbekistan have reported that inspections of high‑value smartphones can take up to 30 days, and that they can pay between $400 and $1,100 to expedite the process. The complaints have coincided with a rise in iPhone prices in Tashkent. According to information circulating online, customs authorities began tightening controls on phones priced above $1,000 on 6 November. The checks are said to be part of efforts to curb smuggling and the use of counterfeit IMEI codes. Travelers claim that, for an additional fee, the inspection period can be reduced to a single day. However, official tariffs and the exact procedure for this expedited service have not yet been published. The situation has already impacted the local smartphone market. At the retailer “Malika” in Tashkent, the price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max with 256 GB of storage reportedly increased from $1,700 to $1,880, with some stores listing the model for over $1,900. In the first nine months of 2026, Uzbekistan officially imported 4 million mobile devices, generating customs revenue of 1.6 trillion soms. A document confirming the mandatory 30‑day inspection period was mentioned, but the source was incomplete.
Article and image source: Novosti Uzbekistana