A group that provided illegal Schengen visas for Uzbek citizens has been exposed in Germany.
The group standing in the investigation center consists mainly of citizens of Uzbekistan and operated on an international scale.
A large-scale special operation was conducted in Germany against an international group suspected of illegally processing Schengen visas for citizens of Uzbekistan. Die Zeit reported this.
It was reported that the investigation is examining cases of illegal entry of foreigners, organizing illegal residence in the country, visa fraud, and document forgery.
As part of the investigative actions, searches were carried out at seven locations in the German federal states of Hesse and Lower Saxony. Approximately 220 federal police officers were involved in the operation.
According to the prosecutor's office, the focus of the investigation is a group consisting mainly of citizens of Uzbekistan, which operated on an international scale.
During the searches, 12 suspects were identified, and another 9 individuals living illegally in Germany were taken in for investigation.
According to preliminary information, the suspects processed short-term Schengen visas for citizens of Uzbekistan seeking work in Europe. This involved providing false information to government agencies and using forged documents.
Investigation materials note that some individuals who entered Germany were later also provided with forged European Union documents. These documents were used to open bank accounts, register mobile communication services, and complete registration processes with various government agencies and insurance systems.
According to law enforcement estimates, the group may have processed visas for at least 76 citizens of Uzbekistan. It is reported that 2,000 euros were charged for a single visa, another 2,000 euros for an airline ticket, and 400 euros for a forged driver's license.
During the searches, forged identity documents and driver's licenses suspected to belong to various European countries, more than 20 mobile phones, and two laptops were confiscated. Additionally, documents related to banks, insurance, and registration were seized.
It was reported that the investigation began following the inspection of a citizen of Uzbekistan on an international bus traveling from Prague to Amsterdam in October 2025. After several forged Latvian identity cards and a forged Polish driver's license were found among his luggage, investigators began identifying the individuals behind this scheme.
The investigative actions are currently ongoing. The German prosecutor's office is considering applying the preventive measure of arrest against the main suspect.
