The rapid response officers of the Tashkent region Department of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Turkey, conducted an operation that prevented several citizens from becoming victims of “human trafficking.” This was reported by the Tashkent city Department of Internal Affairs.
According to preliminary investigations, a woman named “Shahnoza,” who is currently residing in Turkey, promised two women living in the city of Olmaliq that she would welcome their arrival in this country, help them secure a good income, and had assured them of jobs in the “face massage” sector. However, her actual intention was to exploit the girls for lascivious purposes, for which she covered their airfare and other material expenses from Uzbekistan to Turkey.
Two 19-year-old girls arrived in Ankara, Turkey, from Tashkent International Airport on February 6 of this year, and then proceeded to the province of Konya. Upon their arrival, three individuals (citizens of Turkey and Uzbekistan) immediately confiscated the girls’ passports.
Subsequently, they were taken to a residence providing intimate services, where they were forced to provide sexual services to men. One of the girls, who refused to comply, was beaten and subjected to both psychological and physical pressure. They were kept in confinement, with threats of death if they resisted further.
Following information obtained on February 12, rapid response activities were carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the law enforcement agencies of the Republic of Turkey by the rapid response officers of the Tashkent region Department of Internal Affairs, resulting in the return of two girls born in 2005 to Uzbekistan. The girls were immediately placed in a rehabilitation center.
In addition, individuals who deceived the girls into coming and engaged them in licentious activities were arrested in Turkey. Regarding this case, a criminal case was initiated against a citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan, born in 1987 (Sh.J.), under part 2 of article 135 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Measures are currently being taken to extradite this individual to Uzbekistan.
It is reminded that those who commit the crime of human trafficking can be punished with imprisonment for up to 12 years.
