Law enforcement agencies in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan have reportedly thwarted yet another illegal scheme involving the unauthorized organization of the Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. A representative of a local travel agency was apprehended red-handed while allegedly receiving a substantial cash payment from a citizen. According to preliminary investigation data, the employee of a travel company operating in the Samarkand district promised a local resident to arrange a minor pilgrimage trip to Saudi Arabia for four of his relatives. For these services, the individual supposedly demanded and collected 5,000 US dollars before being intercepted by operatives from the State Security Service and the regional internal affairs department.

Subsequent inspections revealed that the travel agency employing the suspect lacked the mandatory official license required to organize pilgrimage tours. Authorities have launched an ongoing investigation to look into the full scope of the unauthorized operations and determine if other individuals were involved.

Law enforcement officials continue to issue warnings to the public, urging citizens to thoroughly verify whether travel agencies possess valid state licenses before attempting to book any trips to Saudi Arabia. Similar illicit schemes targeting prospective pilgrims have previously been uncovered in the Andijan and Fergana regions.

Source: podrobno.uz