State Security Service cracks down on illegal Hajj and Umrah operators (video)

The State Security Service (SSS) of Uzbekistan has detained five individuals involved in the illegal facilitation of Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. This was reported during an operation in the Namangan, Khorezm, and Fergana regions.

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In one incident, a resident of Balikchi district in Andijan, born in 1969, was arrested in Namangan after he received $20,000 from a local citizen in exchange for promising to send the individual's parents to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia through a travel company.

In another case, an employee of a travel company in Namangan, born in 1981, was caught demanding $15,000 for sending two individuals on pilgrimage during this year’s Hajj season. He had already received $10,000 in advance.

In Khorezm, a resident of Gurlan district, born in 1974, was detained after he collected $3,450 from three individuals in exchange for arranging their Umrah pilgrimage through an unlicensed tourist company based in Tashkent.

Meanwhile, in Fergana, a resident of Tashlok district, born in 1981, was arrested after accepting $2,400 for sending two citizens to perform Umrah by issuing visas, despite not being authorized to organize such trips.

Additionally, in Quva district, a 44-year-old man was detained for using his Telegram account to claim he could send citizens on Umrah pilgrimages. He demanded $3,100 for sending two individuals and received $1,800 in advance.

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