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.
Bosnia’s international peace oversight body failed on Thursday to reach agreement on a successor to Germany’s Christian Schmidt, who unexpectedly ...
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire ...
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdra...
Artificial intelligence, digital innovation and youth engagement in environmental governance took centre stage at Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samark...
Disruptions to global energy routes have transformed energy security from an economic concern into a matter of national security, Turkish President Re...
Bosnia’s international peace oversight body failed on Thursday to reach agreement on a successor to Germany’s Christian Schmidt, who unexpectedly stepped down last month, claiming he had come under pressure from the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire proposal and Israel has ruled out a troop withdrawal.
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire after U.S.-backed talks in Washington. The deal requires Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw from southern Lebanon, while both sides will resume direct talks later this month aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
A series of signals from Washington, including congressional testimony, a U.S. Embassy statement and a senior diplomat's visit to Tbilisi, has given Georgia's ruling party reason to declare a diplomatic reset. But Washington's message is more nuanced than Tbilisi is suggesting.
Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought heavy rain, power cuts and transport disruption across Japan on Wednesday (3 June) as it tracked towards the greater Tokyo region.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Albania in recent days to protest against a luxury tourism project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Ivanka Trump.
Armenia’s parliamentary election comes at a defining moment for the South Caucasus, a region reshaped by the Garabagh conflict and broader shifts in Russia-West relations. The outcome is increasingly seen as a signal of Armenia’s future foreign policy direction and the regional balance of power.
Global weather forecasters predict a strong El Niño will develop in the second half of 2026, bringing hotter, drier conditions to much of Asia while increasing rainfall in parts of North and South America.
Bolivia’s Defence Minister has resigned amid widening unrest over government austerity measures, which have led to protesters blocking roads into the country’s two largest cities.
Armenia will hold parliamentary elections on 7 June 2026, a vote that will shape the country’s political direction for the next five years. Understanding how the electoral system converts votes into parliamentary power is key to following the outcome and its wider regional implications.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he sees progress between Israel and Lebanon after talks with Netanyahu, while Hezbollah has rejected a new ceasefire proposal and Israel has ruled out a troop withdrawal.
Disruptions to global energy routes have transformed energy security from an economic concern into a matter of national security, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.
Artificial intelligence, digital innovation and youth engagement in environmental governance took centre stage at Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samarkand, as experts and young leaders explored new approaches to climate resilience and sustainability.
A series of signals from Washington, including congressional testimony, a U.S. Embassy statement and a senior diplomat's visit to Tbilisi, has given Georgia's ruling party reason to declare a diplomatic reset. But Washington's message is more nuanced than Tbilisi is suggesting.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment