The Tashkent Main Department of Internal Affairs said the case emerged during a routine patrol, when a prevention inspector noticed a man near a residential building.
As the officer approached to establish the man's identity and check the property documents, another individual offered him a $1,000 bribe in an apparent attempt to prevent further scrutiny. The officer refused the offer.
A subsequent inspection of the building revealed five or six foreign nationals in each room. Police found 23 people in total, none of whom had the required documents, the department said.
Officers seized 80 mobile phones, 21 laptops, six Wi-Fi routers and 22 passports from the premises in the presence of witnesses.
In a separate operation, police reported uncovering unlicensed cryptocurrency trading involving three foreign nationals.
According to the department, the individuals had repeatedly bought and sold crypto assets through online exchanges without obtaining the license required under Uzbek law. The transactions were worth approximately $27,900, equivalent to more than UZS 329 million.
A criminal case has been opened under Article 278-8 of the Criminal Code, which covers violations of legislation governing the circulation of crypto assets.
