Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Authorities in Tashkent have dismantled a criminal group involved in extortion and fraud at the auto parts market on Farhad Street in the Uchtepa district of the capital.

As a result of an operation conducted by the State Security Service in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 12 members of the criminal organization were apprehended.

Investigations revealed that the offenders installed various devices on vehicles without the owners’ consent and then demanded payment for the so-called "service"—sums many times higher than the actual market price.

In one case, services worth approximately US$600 on the market were forcibly billed at US$13,300. When the victim challenged the inflated cost and demanded a refund, the perpetrators resorted to threats and psychological pressure.

In another incident, using a similar scheme, they installed parts without permission and, after taking the vehicle’s keys, forced the owner to pay 15 million soums—three times the fair value.

Two additional victims reported handing over a total of 70 million soums for the installation of extra auto parts, but the promised work was never completed.

According to the investigation, most members of the group were born between 1988 and 2002 in Tashkent, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions. Many of them have prior criminal records.

Criminal cases have been opened against all suspects under Articles 165 ("Extortion") and 168 ("Fraud") of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Pre-trial detention has been chosen as the preventive measure.

The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are verifying the group’s involvement in other similar crimes and working to identify additional victims.