Uzbekistan’s State Security Service press service said law enforcement authorities have identified two cases of illegal activity linked to organizing Umrah pilgrimage in Fergana and the Shahrikhan district of Andijan region. According to the statement, individuals working for travel firms without the required permits demanded payments from citizens for trips to Saudi Arabia. During joint operations with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, suspects were detained while receiving money; one case has led to a criminal case, while the other is under a pre-investigation check.
Key Takeaways: In Fergana, a travel firm employee allegedly demanded $2,500 to arrange Umrah trips for two citizens and was detained upon receiving $2,450, with a criminal case opened. In Shahrikhan district, a firm employee allegedly demanded $4,400 for four citizens and was detained with his father upon receiving $4,300. The Andijan case is undergoing a pre-investigation check, and no final legal assessment has been announced yet.
The disclosures come amid closer official attention to the pilgrimage-services market and the risks posed by unofficial intermediaries. Umrah is a religious journey to Saudi Arabia, and organizing such travel requires compliance with tourism rules, permissions, and formal agreements. Unauthorized agents can expose citizens to financial loss, document problems, and the risk that a planned trip is canceled or delayed. The cases therefore fit into broader efforts to ensure that pilgrimage services are provided through transparent and legally accountable channels, although the specific outcomes will depend on the evidence gathered by investigators.
In Fergana, the State Security Service said an unofficial employee of a tourism firm, lacking the relevant permit, demanded $2,500 for organizing the trip of two citizens to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. During an operation by territorial departments of the State Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the man was detained while receiving $2,450. A criminal case has been opened against him, and investigative actions are ongoing. The statement did not provide further details about the suspect’s identity or any response from his side.
A similar case was identified in Shahrikhan district, Andijan region. An employee of a tourism firm engaged in illegal activity demanded $4,400 to send four citizens for Umrah. During a joint operation by regional departments of the State Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the man was detained together with his father while receiving $4,300. A pre-investigation check is currently underway; its results will determine the legal assessment and any subsequent procedural decisions.
The two cases highlight the importance of verifying licenses, contracts, and payment documents before booking pilgrimage services. Citizens are encouraged to use authorized operators and to avoid handing money to individuals who cannot confirm their legal authority to organize Umrah travel. Further developments are expected after investigators complete their checks and decide whether additional charges or penalties are warranted. The authorities are likely to continue monitoring the pilgrimage-services sector, given both the high demand for Umrah and the need to protect citizens from fraudulent or unlicensed arrangements.
Source: uznews.uz