Uzbekistan’s consulate in Istanbul warns citizens against carrying strangers’ luggage

According to the statement, during flights between Türkiye and Uzbekistan, some individuals may ask travelers to transport their luggage to Uzbekistan, often using various pretexts — such as having a seriously ill relative or lacking the means to send the luggage themselves — to gain their trust.

"Do not believe such claims, and under no circumstances accept luggage from strangers," the Consulate General warned.

Authorities highlighted that in previous years, several Uzbek citizens had unknowingly transported illegal items, including narcotics and forged documents, after agreeing to carry luggage for strangers, leading to their arrest.

In 2023, a 27-year-old Uzbek citizen at Istanbul Airport agreed to transport luggage on behalf of an unknown individual. However, during a security check, a large quantity of narcotics was discovered inside the bag. As a result, the traveler was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Similarly, in 2022, another Uzbek citizen returning from Antalya to Tashkent accepted luggage from a stranger. Upon inspection, authorities found fake passports and illegal documents inside, leading to the individual's imprisonment for several years.

The Consulate General stressed that carelessness and misplaced trust in strangers could result in severe legal consequences and strongly advised against accepting luggage from unknown individuals.

Previously, the Consulate General had also warned Uzbek citizens in Türkiye about criminal groups offering large sums of money to facilitate illegal migration. Additionally, it had alerted citizens to visa-related fraud targeting Uzbeks in Türkiye.