Police in Kazakhstan's capital have detained a 26-year-old man suspected of storing and distributing narcotics, the website infohub.kz reports.
According to NUR.KZ, citing Polisia.kz, the media portal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Astana resident was detained during an operation as officers seized two caches containing more than 100 packets of illegal substances. According to preliminary information, he was to distribute them across the city.
A subsequent search of the suspect's home also turned up additional packets of white, powdery substances with a distinctive odor inside a shoebox. According to preliminary information, the substances were mephedrone and alpha-PVP. The packets were wrapped in electrical tape of various colors.
All of the items found were seized. A criminal case has been opened. The suspect has been placed in a temporary detention facility, and other persons involved are being identified.
"Storing, selling and distributing narcotics carry criminal liability. Law enforcement agencies are continuously taking measures to identify and shut down drug distribution channels, including through stash drops," the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.