In 2025, Uzbekistan recorded 177 cases of human trafficking, 92 of which involved sexual exploitation. These figures were shared on April 11 during a press conference by Odilbek Urinov, a senior specialist at the Interior Ministry’s Operational-Search Department.
Reportedly, police successfully intervened to prevent 72 women from leaving the country, all of whom were identified as potential victims of sexual exploitation.
Urinov further revealed that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, 57 cases of trafficking have already been uncovered. He attributed this trend to the deceptive lure of "easy money," stating that "the promotion of quick wealth leads young women to fall for false promises, falling victim to deception and heading abroad in search of effortless income."
It is worth noting that Uzbekistan recently intensified its legal stance against these crimes. Under the toughened penalties adopted last year, trafficking involving forged documents now carries a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years (up from the previous 5 to 8 years). In cases where the crime results in the death of a victim, the law now mandates a sentence of 10 to 15 years.
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