The police officers in Uzbekistan have detained several government officials in a new anti-corruption operation.

During a joint operation carried out by the Uzbek State Security Service's officers and the regional police department in the Jizzakh Region, investigators uncovered illegal actions involving an official from a district administration, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The chief specialist of the district administration in the Zarbdar District abused his position and promised to help a citizen, 43, obtain four hundred square meters of land from the state reserve located next to his home. Through contacts in the cadastral system, the official offered to ensure the applicant would win the land at auction and have it registered in his name.

For the arrangement, the official reportedly received 20 million Uzbek sums before being caught red-handed and detained during the operation.

In a separate case, the State Security Service's officers in the Republic of Karakalpakstan detained the chief specialist of the administration in Khojeyli District along with a senior official from the district department of veterinary and livestock development.

Investigators say the two officials acted in prior collusion, accepting $3,000 in bribes to help arrange the registration of 41.6 hectares of land in the name of an entrepreneur from the Khorezm Region.

Authorities revealed that the land had previously been targeted for illegal resale by a local farm manager for 250 million sums. The detained officials promised to prevent the land from being returned to the state reserve and avoid putting it up for auction.

Criminal cases have now been opened against the suspects under Article 168 (Fraud) of the Criminal Code, and investigative actions are currently underway.