In January-February 2026, 45 organized crime groups were uncovered in Uzbekistan, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan reported, according to Gazeta.uz.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service, the Prosecutor General's Office, and other law enforcement agencies jointly conducted 6,025 special operational activities, including 806 night raids and 2,876 searches.
A total of 116 cases of fraud, 315 cases of illegal weapons possession, 86 cases of gambling establishments, 40 cases of human trafficking, and 790 cases of brothel management and HIV transmission were uncovered, according to the report. 533 individuals previously on the wanted list were detained.
In 315 weapons-related cases, 4,570 bladed weapons were seized, including 50 bats, 72 brass knuckles, and 4,004 stabbing and cutting objects. An additional 5,814 rounds of ammunition and 3.7 kg of explosives were seized.
Forty-seven social media accounts "influencing crime, containing destructive ideas, and promoting criminality among youth and the general public" were blocked, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
March 11, 2026