In the Namangan region of Uzbekistan, an individual has been arrested for promising to illegally send citizens on the Hajj pilgrimage and demanding $26,000 in return. The State Security Service (SSS) reported that the suspect, a 42-year-old resident of Namangan city, offered to arrange trips to Saudi Arabia for the "Hajj-2026" season for four citizens from the Chust district and requested the substantial fee for this service.
During an operational measure conducted by SSS and Department for Combating Economic Crimes officers, the perpetrator was apprehended with material evidence while receiving $6,000 of the demanded amount. A criminal case has been initiated against him under Article 168, Part 4, Clause "a" of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan ("Fraud on an especially large scale"), and investigative actions are underway. The SSS urged citizens not to trust suspicious offers and to report such cases via the hotline 1520, emphasizing the guarantee of personal data confidentiality.
The organization of Hajj pilgrimages in Uzbekistan is carried out by the Committee on Religious Affairs and the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan based on an agreement with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj. However, over the past year, 178 criminal cases have been initiated related to the illegal organization of Umrah pilgrimages, with 47 tourist organizations fined for operating without a license and 15 for violating advertising rules.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in a meeting on January 27, highlighted that organized crime, once known as "street" crime, is now infiltrating lucrative sectors under the guise of business, particularly noting increased activity by criminal groups in organizing Hajj and Umrah trips. Previously, it was reported that over 170 Uzbek citizens who traveled for Umrah through private firms and individuals have been unable to return home.
It is recalled that Uzbekistan has launched the "Unified Portal for Hajj and Umrah." Citizens must now register for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages through this single portal: registration for Hajj opens from February 1, and for Umrah from May 1. This system aims to reduce illegal activities in this sector.
Source: www.gazeta.uz