Mass brawls involving Uzbek citizens overseas damage country’s reputation – President

Speaking at a meeting on January 27, President Mirziyoyev criticized the lack of determination among law enforcement officials in tackling organized crime and narcotics networks. According to the president, the situation began to improve after the matter was taken under the direct oversight of the Presidential Administration (AP). Over the past three months, authorities have dismantled around 50 major drug trafficking groups and seized half a ton of narcotics.

In the capital alone, law enforcement has recorded 4,000 drug-related crimes and apprehended 112 organized criminal groups, whose members committed over 1,300 offenses. Mirziyoyev noted that many convicted individuals are released without serving even half of their sentences, contributing to a 125% increase in repeat offenses over the past three years.

“The worst part is that our citizens are forming organized groups abroad, engaging in extortion, violence, and obstructing business activities against fellow Uzbeks,” the president said. “Mass brawls involving Uzbek nationals overseas damage the reputation of our country.”

President Mirziyoyev also mentioned the human cost of these criminal networks. In 2025 alone, 3,700 Uzbek citizens were repatriated from abroad in difficult circumstances, including 192 victims of human trafficking.

The president recalled a deadly brawl in Dubai last April involving Uzbek nationals, which claimed two lives. In January, a court in the United Arab Emirates sentenced eight participants to life imprisonment, while another received a 25-year term.

Mirziyoyev emphasized the need for greater accountability among officials responsible for combating organized crime and drug trafficking, urging stronger measures to trace the ultimate sources and sponsors of narcotics networks.