UzIMEI Glitch: Customs Apologizes, Importers Should Check Their Supply Chains
Uzbekistan's customs resumed phone clearance at Tashkent airport and apologized for the delay. What it means for businesses that import devices.
What happened
Uzbekistan's Customs Committee resumed clearing imported phones at Tashkent airport on 11 November. It started returning several hundred devices held during the check. Officials apologized for three days of disruption and said IMEI verification needed specialist staff. Kun.uz reported this from a press conference.
The UzIMEI system has been under scrutiny for seven years, and this is not the first failure. Across 2025–2026 the Customs Committee ran 21 internal reviews and disciplined 29 staff for violations in mobile device clearance. Criminal cases were opened against some employees, but the agency did not disclose how many (Gazeta.uz). In nine months the country registered more than 7.3 million IMEI codes, and one in eight was registered by an individual (Spot.uz).
Public criticism of airport checks is growing. Experts say the measures hit honest buyers. Economists point to artificial price increases. Bloggers cite constitutional rights. Customs insists the system matters. Journalists' questions about scrapping the registration fee and where the money goes went unanswered.
What it means for importers
If you bring in phones, smart watches, tablets or other devices with IMEI, the airport failure affects you directly. A shipment can stall in clearance, and your buyer may not get goods on time. Those who checked in advance how their logistics partner works with customs, and who build in extra clearance time, come out ahead. Small importers face more risk: they ship in small batches and have no in-house trade specialists.
The disciplinary record is a separate signal: 29 staff punished for clearance violations. Procedures are being checked more strictly, so your paperwork must be in order. Don't count on informal "arrangements" — they are now themselves a subject of investigations.
Tenders to supply equipment to the public sector may appear in the "Equipment and machinery" sector. As of 12 November 2026, TenderLabs data shows 979 open lots there. That does not guarantee phone purchases, but the direction is worth watching.
What to do now
- 1Ask your logistics partner how it clears IMEI devices and what it does during a failure. Put this in the contract.
- 2Check your product lines against UzIMEI requirements: which codes need registration and who does it — you or the supplier.
- 3Add a buffer of at least a few days for customs clearance in your delivery timelines.
- 4Prepare the document pack for each shipment in advance, so you don't depend on urgent inspector requests.
- 5Follow Customs Committee announcements and procurement in the "Equipment and machinery" sector — demand for your products may show up there.
The rules and fees can change, so check the specific announcement before each shipment. TenderLabs tracks public procurement lots so you can spot demand for your equipment early.
Photo: Kun.uz