“We have the power to curb criminal gangs” – President Mirziyoyev promises decisive action against organized crime

Speaking in his address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan on December 26, the president said that investment and tourism come to places where peace prevails, the rule of law is upheld, and citizens’ safety is guaranteed.

At the same time, he warned that in recent months certain criminal gangs have been observed engaging in serious financial crimes that damage the economy, pressuring business owners and attempting to seize their enterprises. Some groups, he said, have gone so far as to act as self-appointed “judges,” intervening in financial disputes between individuals.

The president also noted that some athletes, lured by the prospect of “easy money,” have been drawn into such criminal networks.

“Another troubling aspect is that criminal groups made up of Uzbek citizens are also operating in some foreign countries, which negatively affects our country’s international reputation,” Mirziyoyev said.

“Let everyone hear this clearly: we have the strength and capability to put an end to the activities of such criminal gangs, and we will do it. Uzbekistan has a state, a Constitution, and laws that will reliably protect our citizens, our entrepreneurs, and our investors in all circumstances,” he added.

The president further emphasized that drug abuse is becoming one of the gravest threats to the global gene pool and that Uzbekistan is not immune to this danger.

Drug trafficking, he said, is increasingly taking on a transborder and virtual character, requiring the use of new investigative methods as well as the acquisition of modern knowledge and skills by law enforcement agencies.

“Every child and every young person in our country is our own child. We will never allow them to be left in the grip of drugs. We will mobilize all our strength and capabilities to eradicate drug abuse at its roots and to build strong moral and psychological immunity among our youth. This is the president’s directive, the wish of parents, and the demand of society,” Mirziyoyev said.

A national program addressing this issue has recently been adopted. Under it, the fight against drug-related crimes will be transformed into a nationwide movement, with an uncompromising public environment created to combat this threat.