Uzbekistan’s Department for Combating Economic Crimes says it has uncovered a large-scale fraud and corruption scheme linked to labour migration to South Korea, with estimated damages reaching $90 million.
According to investigators, the operation involved former employees of the Agency for External Labour Migration - now the Migration Agency - as well as former officials from private recruitment companies.
Authorities say members of the group illegally collected large sums of money from Uzbek citizens by promising employment opportunities in South Korea.
Investigators said that, alongside official fees, members of the scheme charged migrants between $7,000 and $12,000 for assistance with overseas employment.
During the initial investigation, officials found that the group had illegally obtained more than $263,500 from 35 citizens. However, the investigation later revealed a far wider alleged fraud.
In one case cited by prosecutors, more than 230 citizens reportedly paid a combined $580,000 for supposed employment assistance. In another, around 1,000 migrants allegedly paid a total of $5.6 million.
Authorities say more than 600 citizens who paid money ultimately failed to travel to South Korea for work.
The Prosecutor General’s Office has urged all potential victims to contact law enforcement through a special hotline, adding that the identities of applicants will remain confidential.
Meanwhile, former head of Uzbekistan’s migration office in South Korea, Azizbek Toshtemirov, has been placed on an international wanted list through Interpol.
According to information published on the Interpol website, Toshtemirov is wanted on fraud charges. The Migration Agency said he previously headed the agency’s South Korea representative office and was dismissed in March 2025 over various violations.
The wanted notice follows the wider investigation into the alleged labour migration corruption network.
Authorities also reported uncovering another migration-related fraud scheme in Surkhandarya Region.
According to investigators, the previously convicted founder of a private educational institution and several accomplices promised six residents employment opportunities in South Korea.
The suspects allegedly received a combined $408,800 from victims. Criminal proceedings have been launched under Uzbekistan’s fraud legislation.
Officials said investigations into both cases are ongoing.
Indian police detained more than 2,000 protesters in Delhi on Saturday as authorities blocked a planned demonstration calling for the resignation o...
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabi...
At least 12 people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, a day after U.S. Presiden...
Leaders of countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have agreed to hold coordinated population censuses around 2030. They took the decision at the CIS Council of Heads of State meeting in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Friday, media reported.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Britain and Israel have reached a temporary compromise over the future of the British Consulate General in East Jerusalem, easing a diplomatic dispute that had threatened to further strain relations between the two countries.
South African judge Navanethem “Navi” Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday “for her efforts to promote peace and international law,” the Norwegian Nobel Committee said.
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday (9 October) escalating tensions with European allies and potentially targeting companies that provide services to the tribunal. The move came hours after former ICC judge Navi Pillay won the Nobel Peace Prize.
A powerful explosion has been reported at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, raising fresh concerns over aviation security in Saudi Arabia as tensions across the region continue to escalate.
Turkic states are assessing the feasibility of passport-free travel between countries using national ID cards, Kürşad Zorlu, the Deputy Chairman of Türkiye’s ruling AK Party said on Saturday.
European Union measures suspending import duties on 80 per cent of Armenian exports to the bloc came into effect on Saturday. The temporary liberalisation measures are aimed at supporting Armenian producers and exporters following trade restrictions imposed on the country's products by Russia.
Georgia is enjoying one of its biggest and highest-quality grape harvests since independence. By 6 October, growers in the country's main wine-producing region, Kakheti, had delivered 182,210 tonnes of grapes, with 99 per cent rated medium or high quality, despite recent protests over prices.
Uzbekistan has unveiled plans to deepen economic ties with Central Asia and Azerbaijan, proposing shared artificial intelligence infrastructure, a critical minerals alliance and a regional trade strategy extending to 2035.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment