Uzbek taxi driver returns $5,000 found in Russia, gaining praise for honesty

A remarkable act of honesty unfolded when Elmurod Mamirjonov, a 43-year-old taxi driver from the Turakurgan district of the Namangan region, returned a lost sum of nearly $5,000 to its rightful owner. The incident occurred during one of his regular trips shuttling passengers between Uzbekistan and Russia.

Discovery of the lost money

While driving through Astrakhan, Mamirjonov noticed a wallet lying by the roadside. Upon inspecting its contents, he found $4,900 and 23,000 rubles. Though initially tempted, Mamirjonov resisted any dishonest thoughts and decided to locate the wallet's owner.

“Shaitan sat on my shoulder, planning what I could do with the money. But I reined in my desires and vowed to return it,” he said. Using social media groups, Mamirjonov spread the word about the lost wallet.

The owner found

Eventually, the wallet’s owner was identified as Allayor Sultanov, a migrant worker from Khorezm. Sultanov confirmed the exact amount and described additional details, including a receipt labeled “Sultanov A.”

The money, however, was not Sultanov’s alone. It represented pooled salaries from a group of six migrant workers in Russia, entrusted to him for delivery to their families in Uzbekistan. Overjoyed to recover the money, Sultanov traveled to Namangan to thank Mamirjonov personally. As a gesture of gratitude, he gifted a bag of Khorezm rice and $200 to the driver.

“The rice and money turned out to be full of blessings. A single cup of rice cooks into a whole pot,” Mamirjonov shared, reflecting on the rewards of honesty.

A test of faith 

Mamirjonov viewed the incident as a test from God. Years earlier, he had donated his family’s $5,000 savings — originally set aside for a pilgrimage to Umrah—to help a struggling family. He likened the found money to a divine reward but firmly believed it belonged to its rightful owner.

“My wife reminded me: ‘We must return this money. We have children, and our food must remain pure.’ Her words strengthened my resolve,” he said.

Challenges of a driver’s life

Mamirjonov’s life as a long-haul taxi driver is fraught with hardships. He covers thousands of kilometers between cities like Krasnodar, Crimea, and Mariupol, often facing extreme weather, mechanical breakdowns, and the perils of driving near conflict zones.

Despite the difficulties, he takes pride in helping fellow migrants, including transporting the bodies of those who pass away abroad. He called on the government to provide special discounts for repatriating deceased citizens, emphasizing the financial and emotional toll such incidents take on migrant families.

Reflections on home

Every journey, Mamirjonov said, ends with gratitude and relief. “The moment I cross into Uzbekistan, all my exhaustion fades. My passengers clap with joy, and my family welcomes me with open arms and tears of happiness,” he said.