According to the Prosecutor General's Office, investigators from the department under the agency exposed a network that used Telegram bots, bank cards registered in the names of third parties, payment services and cryptoassets to launder proceeds from the illegal sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The investigation alleges that officials of three companies – HST, VEK and RBMT – along with other individuals, organized a scheme to legalize funds obtained through the illicit trade in drugs and psychotropic substances.
Investigators said narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances worth UZS 20.9 billion were sold through 58 Telegram bots operated by the international group TESLA SHOP.
According to the investigation, the proceeds were transferred to 90 bank cards opened at Uzbek banks in the names of 14 foreign nationals. Of that amount, UZS 8 billion was transferred to HST and VEK, companies operating in the Paynet payment services sector, while UZS 4.7 billion was sent to the cryptocurrency platform CP.
The funds were subsequently transferred to the companies' settlement accounts and used to provide Paynet services to the public totaling UZS 621.2 billion. Investigators allege that the scheme enabled the suspects to evade UZS 90.3 billion in taxes.
The Prosecutor General's Office also said that illegally obtained funds were used to conduct unauthorized cryptocurrency transactions totaling $50.5 million. Of that amount, cryptoassets worth $2.4 million were allegedly transferred to the foreign currency accounts of 14 foreign nationals, an act investigators have classified as money laundering.
A criminal case has been opened under the relevant articles of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code, and the investigation is ongoing.
