Iranian security forces have rescued four Tajik citizens who were abducted in Tehran for ransom in exchange for their release.
According to reports, the police managed to kill two kidnappers, arrest five and release all four hostages unharmed.
On August 15, the head of Tehran's intelligence police, General Ali Valipur Gudarzi, said that four Tajiks had entered Iran legally.
"The scammers promised to help them leave Iran, first to Europe, and then to the United States. However, upon arrival in Iran, they were taken hostage to demand ransom from their families," General Gudarzi said. "During the operation, the police discovered the hideout of the criminals and the location of the abducted people in the vicinity of Tehran on Wednesday, August 14 at 19:00."
According to him, as a result of the operation, two kidnappers were killed, one of whom threatened the hostage with a knife.
"Five more foreign criminals were arrested, the hostages were rescued unharmed," he added.
On the evening of August 15, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan in a special message confirmed the release of 4 Tajik citizens abducted in Tehran.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also published the names of the abducted Tajiks: Abdurakhmanov H.H., Bazarov A.A., Nazarov H.A. and Gayratzoda A.N.
"They were promised assistance in obtaining a US visa in Iran. Internet scammers took them to Iran and took them hostage, demanding large sums of money for them later. All the abductees were released as a result of cooperation with Iranian law enforcement agencies," the ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic also recommended that citizens "do not believe any ads and offers for obtaining visas to travel to foreign countries."
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Tajikistan also reported that on the afternoon of August 15, the head of the department, General Ramadan Rahimzod, met with the Iranian Ambassador to Dushanbe, Alireza Hakdodien.
According to the report, "they discussed issues of strengthening cooperation in the areas of combating organized crimes, ensuring security and other issues of interest to them."
The day before, the Prosecutor General's Office of Tajikistan also warned citizens of the country that recently individuals and companies have been advertising on social networks about working abroad, especially in the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom.
"These ads have no real basis and are used by scammers to lure money from citizens, this can have negative consequences and cause great material and monetary damage," the message says. "The Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Tajikistan asks citizens not to be mistaken and not to succumb to any kind of propaganda to provide jobs abroad and not to put themselves in danger."
