Illegal cryptocurrency scheme worth 180 billion soums uncovered in Tashkent (video)

Those involved in the illegal circulation of more than 180 billion soums worth of crypto assets since the beginning of 2025 have been detained in the Yashnabad district of Tashkent city, the Cybersecurity center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

According to the report, within the framework of the “Safe cyberspace” preventive operation, members of a criminal group were arrested in Tashkent for providing services to foreign bookmaker companies engaged in gambling and games of chance. The group is accused of laundering funds through unauthorized cryptocurrency transactions carried out via the Descent platform.

During rapid investigative operations conducted in the Yashnabad district, six members of a criminal group were detained. It was established that since January of this year, they had engaged in the illegal circulation of crypto assets amounting to more than 180 billion soums.

A criminal case has been initiated under Article 278-8, part 3, paragraphs "a", "v" of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (violation of legislation in the field of crypto-asset circulation). As part of the investigation, more than 38 mobile devices and nearly 1,000 bank cards were seized as material evidence. Preliminary investigative procedures are currently underway.

It is worth noting that earlier, individuals who used malicious software to steal nearly 3 billion soums from the bank cards of 133 people were detained in Tashkent.