Law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent have dismantled an organized criminal group operating in the Almazar District.

The operation was carried out by officers from the Interior Ministry’s Department of Operational Investigations, its territorial units, the State Security Service, and the district prosecutor’s office, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

Investigators established that an 18-year-old Tashkent resident - previously convicted of theft and hooliganism - had formed a criminal group made up of his peers.

Acting in coordination, the suspects posed as so-called “problem solvers” to random passersby, intimidating and assaulting victims before forcibly taking their money and personal belongings. The investigation also uncovered a case of prolonged extortion targeting another 18-year-old man, whom the group had monitored for some time before beginning to regularly demand money from him.

The investigators noted that the suspects initially extorted $100, followed by 2.5 million soums and an additional 24.9 million soums. Later, under threats of violence, the victim was forced to hand over $14,000. Members of the criminal group were caught red-handed while receiving part of that amount - $2,000 in cash.

Criminal proceedings have been launched against the suspects under Part 2, Clauses “b” and “v” of Article 165 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (“Extortion”). Investigative actions are ongoing.