Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Cases of illegal land sales have been uncovered in the Navoi, Andijan, Ferghana, and Tashkent regions, according to the press service of the State Security Service (SSS) of Uzbekistan.

In Karmana district of Navoi region, a private entrepreneur gained the trust of another individual and falsely claimed to possess one hectare of vacant land from the local administration’s reserve. He demanded 2 billion soums for the plot, assuring the buyer that he could arrange all the necessary cadastral documents through his connections with officials. However, after receiving 1 billion soums in the city of Navoi, he was apprehended by SSS officers and the General Prosecutor’s Office’s Department. Material evidence was seized during the arrest.

In Andijan region, in Khojaabad district, two brothers, born in 1992 and 1994, promised to arrange the sale of two hectares of land from the state reserve for US$300,000 by leveraging their ties with high-ranking officials. During an operation conducted by the SSS in cooperation with law enforcement agencies, one of the brothers was caught red-handed while receiving an advance payment of US$50,000.

In Ferghana region, in the Uchkuprik district, the head of a farming enterprise specializing in cotton and grain cultivation agreed to sell 50 sotkas (0.5 hectares) of irrigated land for US$55,000. However, as he received US$45,000, his illegal activity was thwarted by officers of the SSS and the Department for Combating Economic Crimes.

Another incident occurred in Kuva district of Ferghana region. The head of a limited liability company engaged in confectionery production sought to use his connections in cadastral authorities to illegally reassign 10 sotkas (0.1 hectares) of land for residential use for US$35,000. He was detained with material evidence upon receiving the money.

In Tashkent, during a joint operation by the SSS, the Department for Combating Economic Crimes, and the Main Department of Internal Affairs, a 1964-born resident of the capital was arrested. He attempted to sell 16 sotkas (0.16 hectares) of state reserve land in the Tashkent district at a rate of US$22,000 per sotka, totaling US$352,000. He also promised to formalize the transaction in the buyer’s name through his high-level connections. He was apprehended upon receiving a US$30,000 down payment.

During further investigative actions, his accomplice—a 1952-born resident of the Tashkent district with a prior fraud conviction—was also detained. He, too, had received US$30,000.

Criminal cases have been initiated under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code, and investigations are ongoing.