Ohio Mosque Ties to Violation-Ridden Uzbek Trucking Firms Spark Safety Concerns

Key points

• The Islamic Center of Maineville received substantial donations from trucking companies with serious FMCSA violations, including Buraq Limited ($28,000), Premier Trucking Group ($25,000), and Phoenix Cargo ($150,000).
• Donors like Foko Logistics and Maca Transportation had high out-of-service rates, with Foko at 41.7% and Maca at 38.9%, citing issues like brake failures and false hours-of-service records.
• Telegram posts linked the mosque to former and current Uzbek government officials, including a delegation that visited the U.S. in April 2025, raising questions about foreign influence.
• Ohio State Rep. Michelle Teska introduced legislation requiring English-only CDL tests, citing 'insanity' in allowing tests in 10 languages, after witnessing a non-English speaking driver at a local DMV.
• Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell noted a disproportionate increase in felony cases involving Uzbeks since 2021, prompting the hiring of more court interpreters, though he stated no laws have been broken regarding the fundraising.

Background

This story follows earlier reports on foreign influence in U.S. infrastructure and community integration. While previous archive items focused on AI data centers and Kennedy Center disputes, this case highlights a different vector of foreign economic activity: the trucking industry. The influx of Uzbek residents in Ohio, estimated at 3,800 across the state, has driven local economic activity but also raised safety concerns. The current investigation builds on a broader national trend of scrutinizing commercial driver licensing and safety compliance, particularly after high-profile fatal crashes involving non-English speaking drivers.

Why it matters

The intersection of religious fundraising and commercial safety violations raises critical questions about regulatory oversight in the trucking industry. If foreign-owned companies with poor safety records are financially supporting local institutions, it may indicate a systemic failure to enforce compliance. This could lead to increased federal scrutiny of CDL licensing requirements and potential new legislation to ensure English proficiency for commercial drivers, impacting both safety and immigration policy.

What to watch

Ohio lawmakers may advance Teska’s bill to mandate English-only CDL tests. Federal agencies like the FMCSA may increase inspections of Uzbek-owned trucking firms in Ohio. The mosque and Hamkor Uz Cincinnati Association may face further scrutiny regarding their ties to foreign officials and the source of their donations. Local law enforcement in Warren County is expected to continue targeted traffic enforcement initiatives.