Illicit trade in Central Asia

Central Asia, a vast and geopolitically significant region nestled between Europe and Asia, presents a wide range of diverse cultures, landscapes, and economic potential. However, beneath this façade of promise lies a growing concern – the pervasive impact of illicit trade. Central Asia, with its strategic location at the crossroads of major trade routes and evolving economies, has become a fertile ground for a wide spectrum of illicit activities. From the illegal trafficking of goods and the exploitation of natural resources to the intricate networks of money laundering and transnational crime, the region faces substantial challenges in its struggle against these illicit practices.

Publications

An Investigation into Illicit Trade: Spotlight on Uzbekistan (August 2025)

The TRACIT report, An Investigation into Illicit Trade: Spotlight on Uzbekistan, provides a comprehensive look at how illicit trade continues to threaten the country’s economic growth, consumer safety, and governance.

Despite recent reforms and stronger customs enforcement, Uzbekistan remains exposed to counterfeit goods, illicit alcohol and tobacco, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and illegal mining. Its position at the crossroads of Central Asia also makes it a transit hub for smuggling and parallel imports.

The report highlights these vulnerabilities and sets out targeted recommendations to strengthen enforcement, improve border controls, and foster closer cooperation with industry.

Report snapshots:

English version

Russian version

Central Asia at the Cross-Roads of Illicit Trade: An investigation into illicit trade in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan (November 2023)

The TRACIT report, Central Asia at the Cross-Roads of Illicit Trade: An investigation into illicit trade in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan presents a country and cross-sector assessment of illicit trade in the region.

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan form the heart of a region known as Central Asia. But while a more interconnected Central Asia brings new economic opportunities for the region, this also presents a risk of facilitating illicit trade. From smuggling, counterfeiting and tax evasion, to the illegal sale and possession of goods, services, humans and wildlife, Central Asian governments are already losing millions in tax revenues, natural resources are illegally leaving the country, informal markets are strengthening, and consumers are increasingly exposed to poorly made and unregulated products.

To better protect the countries of Central Asia and their trading partners from illicit trade, this report concludes with a set of policy recommendations.

MEDIA CENTER

Supporting materials

Featured Event

Roundtable on illicit trade and parallel imports

21 August 2025, Tashkent - TRACIT co-organized a roundtable on illicit trade and parallel imports, bringing together government, business, and legal experts. Director-General Jeffrey Hardy launched TRACIT’s new report, An Investigation into Illicit Trade: Spotlight on Uzbekistan. Discussions stressed the need to reinforce customs controls along the Silk Road and strengthen oversight of counterfeit goods on online platforms.

Event program

Media coverage:

TRACIT presents report to AmCham Kazakhstan Conference

14 November 2023, Almaty - TRACIT published its latest report, Central Asia at the Cross-Roads of Illicit Trade: An investigation into illicit trade in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan at the AmCham Kazakhstan Conference on Foreign Investment.