Fraudsters promising Hajj pilgrimages were apprehended

Incidents of fund misappropriation involving individuals in Uzbekistan who promised to arrange Hajj pilgrimages have been uncovered, according to the State Security Service.

Two employees of a travel firm in Tashkent's Yakkasaroy district were apprehended after gaining the trust of a local citizen, demanding $18,000, and receiving $4,500 in exchange for preparing visa documents for his parents' Hajj trip to Saudi Arabia.

In another case, the head of a travel firm in Tashkent's Yunusobod district was arrested after demanding $9,500 and receiving $5,700 for arranging a Hajj trip for a resident of the Yashnobod district for the 2024 season.

A previously convicted individual from Tashkent's Shaykhontohur district was caught demanding $20,000 and receiving $10,000 to send two citizens from Surkhandarya's Sherobod district on a Hajj pilgrimage through a travel company.

Additionally, the manager of a tourism company in Fergana city was arrested after promising to send a resident of Toshloq district and his two minor children on Hajj for $30,000, receiving $15,000.

Another person in Yozyovon district, Fergana region, was apprehended while receiving $16,000 for sending a citizen from Quva district and his parents to Saudi Arabia for Hajj through a travel company.

Criminal cases have been initiated against these individuals, and investigations are ongoing.

According to a decision by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated June 7, 2017, the organization of Hajj and Umrah events for Uzbeks is exclusively managed by the Committee on Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia. The Office of Muslims of Uzbekistan is the only authorized body to conduct these activities, and other organizations are prohibited from doing so.

Additionally, Saudi regulations stipulate that a Hajj visa is required for foreign citizens to perform Hajj. Other visa types, such as Umrah, tourism, or business visas, are not valid for Hajj. Violations result in deportation from Saudi Arabia, a 10-year entry ban, and a fine of 50,000 Saudi Riyals.

It was announced on May 21 that the total Hajj quota for citizens of Uzbekistan is set at 15,000.