State Security Service detains individuals for illegal Hajj arrangements

The State Security Service of Uzbekistan has detained several individuals in Andijan, Kashkadarya, Namangan regions, and Tashkent for attempting to illegally send citizens on the Hajj pilgrimage. Criminal cases have been initiated against the suspects, according to an official report by the agency.

In Andijan region, a man born in 1966, a resident of Andijan city with multiple prior convictions, was caught during an operation while fraudulently promising to send 10 citizens on the Hajj pilgrimage. He claimed to be acting on behalf of a now-defunct travel company based in the city. In exchange for these false promises, he collected a total of \$50,000, receiving \$5,000 from each individual.

In Kashkadarya region, a businessman born in 1985 and residing in Karshi was detained after deceiving a citizen by promising to arrange Hajj travel for him and a relative through acquaintances in Tashkent. He accepted \$14,000 in total.

A similar incident occurred in Namangan, where the manager of a local travel agency demanded \$20,000 to send two individuals on the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. He was arrested after accepting \$10,000 as an advance payment.

In another case, a travel agency employee operating in Tashkent received \$9,000 from a resident of Tashlok district in Fergana region. The payment was made in Kokand under the false promise of arranging Hajj travel.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated in all the cases mentioned, and investigations are currently underway.

It is worth noting that earlier, individuals in Syrdarya and Fergana regions were also arrested for similar schemes involving fraudulent promises of Hajj pilgrimage arrangements.