Hundreds of vehicles illegally registered in Namangan, investigation underway

According to sources, the criminal network operated across several regions in the Fergana Valley, and some members are currently in custody. Investigators are probing the extent of the damages caused to both citizens and the state, which are estimated to amount to billions of UZS.

The illicit scheme reportedly involved vehicles that should have gone through auction, as well as imported cars, including those from Kyrgyzstan, which were registered without paying customs duties. The suspects are believed to have forged registration plates and technical passports for vehicles that had not been officially registered in Uzbekistan.

In addition to lower-level traffic officers, one of the detained individuals allegedly worked as a driver for a senior official within the Namangan regional police department.

Several of the suspiciously registered vehicles have been seized for examination, leaving their owners in limbo for months. Kun.uz interviewed one affected individual, who explained that his Lacetti was taken for inspection six months ago due to a discrepancy with the vehicle identification number.

“I bought the car legally for $16,000, with everything checked by the registration office and notarized,” he said. “But six months ago, they said the chassis number was altered and took it for an expert review. I was using the car to earn a living, and now I am struggling with debt. I bought the car from a fellow villager, who in turn had purchased it from someone now involved in the investigation.”

The number of people impacted by this investigation appears to be significant, with numerous vehicles reportedly seized as part of the probe.

While the exact number of suspects and the specific charges they face have not yet been disclosed, the investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as authorities continue their work.