Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — An employee of a travel company in Samarkand Region has been detained while receiving US$5,000 to arrange a trip to Saudi Arabia for four people to perform Umrah. Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SSS) reported the incident.
According to the agency, the employee of a travel company operating in Samarkand District gained the trust of a Samarkand resident and offered to organise a pilgrimage for four of his relatives.
Officers from the SSS, together with representatives of the regional Department of Internal Affairs, detained the man as he received the money. An investigation found that the company did not have the licence required to organise and conduct Umrah trips.
Pre-investigation proceedings are currently underway.
The SSS urged citizens to check whether travel companies hold the relevant licence before signing contracts for the organisation of pilgrimages.
