Law enforcement agencies and security services in Uzbekistan continue to crack down on unauthorized travel schemes targeting citizens seeking to perform religious pilgrimages abroad. According to the State Security Service of Uzbekistan, fresh cases of illegal Umrah pilgrimage organization have been uncovered in the Andijan and Fergana regions, where intermediaries allegedly demanded thousands of dollars from unsuspecting citizens.

In the city of Andijan, authorities targeted an employee of a local travel agency that lacked the mandatory state license required to organize Umrah trips. The suspect reportedly offered a resident of the Balykchi district to facilitate the pilgrimage of four of his relatives to Saudi Arabia in exchange for 4,400 dollars. The individual was apprehended red-handed while receiving the cash during a joint sting operation conducted by security and internal affairs personnel.

A parallel incident was documented in the Fergana region, where a resident of the Tashlak district promised two locals to arrange their pilgrimage through a travel firm based in the Namangan region. The suspect demanded 2,100 dollars for the illicit service, but was intercepted by operatives while collecting an advance payment of 1,000 dollars. Criminal proceedings have been initiated against all suspects, and comprehensive investigations are currently underway to uncover the full scope of the illegal operations.

Authorities reiterate that organizing Umrah trips within the country requires a specialized license pursuant to the Cabinet of Ministers resolution No. 668 issued on October 12, 2024. While these regulatory measures were supposedly designed to safeguard the rights and ensure the safety of pilgrims, citizens continue to fall victim to fraudsters exploiting religious sentiments. Similar unauthorized pilgrimage schemes were previously exposed in the Tashkent and Fergana regions.

Source: podrobno.uz