Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Law enforcement agencies in Uzbekistan have detained a group of individuals attempting to steal 370 billion soums from the accounts of one of the country’s banks.

According to the press service of the State Security Service (SSS) of Uzbekistan, the operation was carried out by employees of the SGB and the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs.

It was reported that a 33-year-old former bank employee obtained access codes to the bank’s software and accounts from a 22-year-old bank specialist for US$6,500.

In collusion with a 51-year-old resident of Namangan region, who had been previously convicted three times for fraud, and a 35-year-old resident of Tashkent region, the former employee planned to steal money from bank accounts and plastic cards linked to the bank’s application.

The SSS clarified that they intended to steal 370 billion soums.

The group planned to transfer the money through offshore zones to the accounts of their acquaintances abroad.

Members of the group were detained while attempting to convert 189 billion soums into foreign currency for subsequent transfer to foreign accounts.

During the preliminary investigation, it was established that after executing their plan, the group intended to spread information that the bank’s software had been hacked from abroad.

A criminal case has been initiated under paragraph "a" of part 4 of article 169 (theft in an especially large amount) in conjunction with article 25 (preparation for a crime and attempted crime) of the Criminal Code.

The suspects have been taken into custody.