Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Citizens were detained in Tashkent, Bukhara and Samarkand, promising to organize the departure of fellow citizens to the United States for a fee from US$18,000 to US$40,000.

The State Security Service and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes carried out an operation, detaining groups of fraudsters in three regions.

Three residents of Tashkent offered six citizens visa documents and employment in the United States for US$32,000. They were detained while receiving the money.

In Bukhara, a 26-year-old man promised a 32-year-old citizen a visa and work in the United States for US$40,000 and was detained after receiving an advance of US$30,000.

In Samarkand region, two citizens offered to send a local resident to the United States for US$23,000 and were arrested upon receiving an advance of US$10,000.

Another fraudster from Samarkand was detained for promising to send people to work in the United States for US$18,000.

Law enforcement agencies opened criminal cases against these individuals.