Law enforcement officers in Uzbekistan have dismantled a suspected human trafficking network accused of recruiting young women and sending them to Türkiye for prostitution.

Police received operational information that two women from Namangan were actively seeking out young and divorced women. Surveillance revealed that the suspects were part of a broader chain involved in recruiting and transporting Uzbek citizens abroad for sexual exploitation, The Caspian Post reports via Russian media.

Investigators say the women gained the trust of a 24-year-old resident of Namangan by promising her high earnings and “legal” employment. Using misleading information and false assurances, they attempted to send her to Ankara via Tashkent International Airport.

The suspects were detained at the airport at the moment of departure.

A criminal case has been opened under Part 2 of Article 135 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code (human trafficking). Investigative actions are currently ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full scope of the network.