Eight suspected members of an organized group involved in the sale of synthetic drugs have been detained in the Zhetisu region, reports infohub.kz.
According to the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office, the activity of an organized group illegally selling synthetic narcotics on the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been suppressed in the Zhetisu region. Eight suspected participants were detained during operational and investigative measures.
According to the criminal case materials, the criminal activity was coordinated from abroad. The organizer ensured the supply of synthetic narcotics, assigned roles among group members, provided coordinates of drug stashes, monitored the execution of criminal orders, and made payments using cryptocurrency.
It has been preliminarily established that the group members, following the organizer's instructions, set up drug stashes in the cities of Taldykorgan, Almaty, Konayev, Kaskelen, and Pavlodar.
During the investigative and operational measures, packages with a powdery substance presumably containing the synthetic drug mephedrone, other substances sent for forensic examination, mobile phones with information of evidentiary value, as well as data on payments using the Exodus cryptocurrency wallet were seized.
Criminal cases have been initiated on all identified facts under Article 297 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Investigative and operational measures are underway to identify the organizer, his whereabouts, drug supply channels, and other individuals involved in the illegal activity. The progress of the pre-trial investigation is under the control of the Zhetisu regional prosecutor's office.