Police in Almaty and the Almaty Region have shut down drug distribution channels. In Almaty, a 33-year-old man was detained, and in the Almaty Region, a stash of 2 kg of mephedrone was discovered.
WHAT WAS FOUND ON THE DETAINEE
According to Polisia.kz, police in Almaty detained a 33-year-old man. During a search of his car, officers discovered and seized 130 packages containing a powdery substance.
During a check at the man's place of residence, narcotic substances, electronic scales, packaging materials, and other items that, according to the department, were used for packaging banned substances, were also found.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THE ALMATY REGION
In the Almaty Region, law enforcement officers uncovered another stash containing a large batch of drugs. The total volume of the seized substance amounted to 2 kg of mephedrone, which is equivalent to 10,000 single doses.
The department reported that the seized batch did not reach consumers. The detainee gave a confession.
HOW THE CRIMINAL CASE IS PROGRESSING
A pre-trial investigation has been launched into this incident under Article 297 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Illegal acquisition, storage, transportation for the purpose of sale, shipment, or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their analogues"). The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years in prison.
The detainee has been placed in a temporary detention facility (TDF).
WHAT THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS REPORTED
The head of the Committee for Combating Drug Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Bakytzhan Amirkhanov, stated that the department continues targeted operations to shut down drug supply and distribution channels.
According to him, the work is being carried out as part of the implementation of the "Law and Order" principle.
CONTEXT
Kazakhstan's law enforcement agencies have reported cases of mephedrone seizures and the shutdown of clandestine laboratories in various regions of the country.
In the city of Arys, Turkestan Region, officers of the MIA liquidated a drug laboratory where, according to the investigation, synthetic drugs were produced. Two brothers were detained in connection with the case, and during a search, nearly 500 kg of mephedrone in liquid form and 1.5 tonnes of precursors were seized.
In Taldykorgan, law enforcement officers liquidated two drug laboratories where, according to the investigation, two foreign nationals were producing synthetic drugs. During the searches, more than 1.3 kg of mephedrone was seized, along with laboratory equipment, chemical reagents, and other items.
In Shymkent, police shut down the operations of an underground laboratory producing synthetic drugs. According to the MIA, law enforcement officers seized around 4.5 kg of mephedrone, which amounts to approximately 8,000 single doses, as well as more than 1 tonne of precursors and equipment for manufacturing narcotic substances.
In the Akmola Region, officers liquidated an underground laboratory producing synthetic drugs and detained a 54-year-old man and his 26-year-old son. During the special operation, 200 kg of mephedrone, more than 2 tonnes of precursors, chemical reactors, laboratory equipment, and reagents were seized; according to expert estimates, the volume of the drug could have amounted to around 600,000 single doses.
