A Vahdat resident promised to send 22 people to work in Slovakia and became the subject of a criminal case.

Officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan detained Kholmakhmad Tagoybekov, a resident of the city of Vahdat, known as "Khoji Kholmad," on suspicion of organizing illegal migration.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the man promised 22 Tajik citizens employment in Slovakia and arranged for their departure to Tashkent. According to the ministry, the people waited for approximately 20 days there for onward travel.

Investigators claim that applicants were promised the opportunity to travel to work in a European country after completing driving courses and obtaining the necessary documents.

According to law enforcement, after paying over $700, each participant was issued cards and chips. The organizers explained that these documents were necessary for subsequent employment in Slovakia.

However, as the investigation established, the issued cards were valid only within the territory of Uzbekistan and could not be used for the stated purposes.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that seven months after the documents were processed, not a single citizen had been sent to work in European countries.

According to investigators, each of the victims spent over 12,000 somoni on paperwork, registration, travel, accommodation, and food. Furthermore, law enforcement officials allege that Tagoybekov received an additional 1,300 somoni from each.

The department also noted that the suspect had previously been charged with criminal offences four times.

Investigative actions are currently ongoing in this case.