Namangan man detained in Hajj fraud case in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A man suspected of fraud in organizing Hajj pilgrimage travel has been detained in Uzbekistan after allegedly demanding a large sum of money for the illegal arrangement of travel to Saudi Arabia.

According to law enforcement authorities, the state annually creates necessary conditions for the safe and organized performance of Hajj, which is one of the obligatory duties in Islam.

The official organization of pilgrimage is carried out by the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan on the basis of annual agreements with the Ministry of Hajj of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the Committee for Religious Affairs.

Despite this, cases are still recorded where individuals mislead citizens by offering unofficial pilgrimage services in exchange for significant sums of money.

In one such case, a resident of Namangan city, born in 1984, allegedly demanded US$26,000 from four residents of Chust district for assisting their illegal participation in the 2026 Hajj season outside the established procedure.

During an оператив (operational) measure conducted by officers of the State Security Service and the Department under the General Prosecutor’s Office in Chust district, the suspect was detained while receiving part of the money — US$6,000.

A criminal case has been initiated against him under point “a” of part 4 of Article 168 of the Criminal Code, which provides liability for fraud.

Investigative actions are currently ongoing.