$2.4 million land scam: Suspect caught in Almalyk (video)

A resident of Almalyk, Tashkent region, was detained while attempting to sell 32 hectares of agricultural land for $2.4 million, according to a report from the State Security Service (SSS).

The suspect had demanded $2.4 million in exchange for registering the land in the Ahangaran district under the buyer's name using official connections. He received a $500,000 advance payment in a Tashkent café before being apprehended by SSS officers, the Main Department of Internal Affairs, and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes.

In a joint operation by the SSS and the Prosecutor General's Office, two individuals from Yangiyul district were caught attempting to sell 48 acres of reserve land for $60,000, demanding an additional $8,160 for cadastral documentation. They had already received $64,000 before their arrest.

Additionally, a resident of Sherabad district (born in 1990) was caught in a separate case, trying to sell 20 acres of land under the Melioration Expedition and 45 acres of agricultural land belonging to a local citizen (born in 2016). The suspect had already collected $56,700 and 43 million soums before being detained.

Another individual from the Urgench district, born in 1979, was arrested while receiving $45,000 and 13 million soums for illegally transferring 24 hectares of land from the state reserve along the Shavot Canal.

Authorities confirmed that criminal cases have been opened against all detained suspects, and investigations are ongoing.

Earlier, an individual was caught selling 2.5 hectares of state reserve land in Fergana for $650,000, having already received a $100,000 advance.