In the tranquil, rural landscape of southwest Ohio, a rising mosque has become the unlikely epicenter of a disturbing investigation that lays bare an alarming influx of foreign-owned trucking companies and a troubling pattern of fraud. A Fox News Digital review has exposed significant financial ties between the Islamic Center of Maineville, numerous trucking firms cited for egregious safety violations, and even the government of Uzbekistan itself. The implications for public safety and national sovereignty are profound.
Amidst homes and farmland, just a mile north of Maineville's main intersection, the Islamic Center of Maineville has been under construction for four years. What began as a local community project has now been revealed to be deeply intertwined with an industry fraught with peril and a foreign nation's influence. The mosque’s own Telegram channel, boasting 3,600 members, openly courts donations, acknowledging partnerships with these very trucking companies — sharing screenshots of hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from local, Uzbek-owned firms.
The scale of the safety breaches is shocking. Companies like Buraq Limited, which donated at least $28,000 to the Islamic Center, show dozens of violations including repeated English-proficiency failures, Electronic Logging Device (ELD) violations, invalid Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs), and expired medical cards. Premier Trucking Group Inc., with at least $25,000 in mosque donations, accumulated over 100 violations, including for unsafe driving and invalid CDLs. Foko Logistics LLC, a $20,000 donor, had 52 violations across 37 inspections, with a staggering 41.7% of its vehicle inspections resulting in an out-of-service designation due to critical maintenance issues like damaged brake hoses and severely underinflated tires. Maca Transportation and Services LLC, another mosque donor, shows 120 violations, including an English-proficiency failure and falsified hours-of-service records. Phoenix Cargo, a significant donor contributing $150,000 to the mosque, has been cited hundreds of times for safety violations, including ELD tampering and unsafe driving.
These are not isolated incidents; they represent a systemic failure that endangers every American on our roads. The notion that drivers incapable of basic English communication are operating massive commercial vehicles is not merely a logistical problem; it is a national security risk and a direct threat to American lives. The tragic death of 21-year-old Ohio soccer player Tobias "Toby" Forsythe, allegedly struck by Uzbek truck driver Bekhzod Asrarov — who authorities say could not communicate effectively in English and stands accused of concealing his dashcam — underscores the horrifying human cost of this regulatory laxity.
The entanglement extends beyond mere donations. The Islamic Center’s website claims it does not solicit foreign government donations, yet its Telegram account paints a different picture, suggesting close ties with the government of Uzbekistan. Hamkor Uz Cincinnati Association, the nonprofit identified as owning the mosque's 6.7-acre property, features administrators and posts revealing connections to former Uzbek government officials who are actively involved in "creating the trucking companies." Further, current Uzbek Ministry of Digital Technologies officials, including Ambassador Furqat Sidiqov, visited the U.S. and participated in events hosted by Hamkor Uz, inviting local entrepreneurs and truck-company managers. This isn't just cultural exchange; it's a concerning blend of foreign state actors and a burgeoning, problematic industry on American soil.
The Hamkor Uz Telegram channel itself brazenly advertises local trucking companies, English courses for truck driving schools, and even legal counseling. It offers guidance on "Shariah compliant banking" and ominously, "speaking English with the police" and how to "learn on the road." As Nodawolf, a local researcher documenting alleged trucking fraud, anonymously revealed due to death threats, "The fundraising for the Islamic Center concerns me because a large percentage of the Uzbek truck companies that donate have been repeatedly cited for the same kinds of serious inspection violations... Given the documented safety and compliance problems... it’s reasonable to ask whether gaps in U.S. regulations are being systematically exploited." Because of course, they are. And somehow, they still expect Americans not to notice.
Local residents have voiced their concerns to elected officials, only to be met with apprehension, fearing accusations of being "Islamophobic or racist." It's a familiar tactic used to shut down legitimate questions about public safety and national integrity. Thankfully, not all officials are intimidated. Ohio Republican state Rep. Michelle Teska, representing Maineville, has introduced common-sense legislation to mandate CDL examinations be administered in English. "I did some research and basically found out that you can get your driver's license and your CDL license in the state of Ohio and you can have that test in 10 different languages," Teska explained. "So that, to me, common sense says that's insanity." She has witnessed the problem firsthand, encountering a clearly unqualified Uzbek driver who could not speak English, trying to navigate a semi-truck at a local BMV. And there it is.
Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell, while stressing no laws have been broken regarding the mosque's fundraising, acknowledges a "disproportionate" influx of felony cases involving Uzbeks since 2021, requiring more court interpreters and language-speaking city employees. "I would say hardly a week goes by where we don't have some felony case involving an Uzbek, it's pretty frequent at this point," Fornshell stated. This escalating strain on local law enforcement and judicial systems is undeniable, far exceeding what's observed in any other immigrant community. And it's not a coincidence.
The gravity of the situation is perhaps best encapsulated by Hamkor Uz board member Nodirjon Ernazarov, who told the Cincinnati Enquirer through a translator, "This is our motherland now, from now on." An astonishing admission, especially coming from a man who also owns Ray Cargo Corp., a trucking company with its own litany of safety violations. When foreign entities declare our nation their "motherland" while simultaneously operating businesses that flout safety regulations and strain our legal system, it's a flashing red light for America First. This is not about community building; it's about unchecked influence and the systemic undermining of American standards and sovereignty.
The Maineville mosque investigation exposes a critical vulnerability in our nation's infrastructure and regulatory oversight. It's a stark reminder that while the radical left pushes open borders and decries any questioning of foreign integration as bigotry, the safety of American citizens and the integrity of our homeland are being compromised. It is high time for strong, America First leadership to reassert common sense, demand accountability, and ensure that our roads, our laws, and our communities remain firmly American, free from foreign exploitation and the creeping threat to our sovereignty.
