Nineteen mobile checkpoints began operating on national and regional highways in Kazakhstan's Karaganda Region on September 25. They will remain in place until winter sets in, according to the website infohub.kz.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs' departmental website, police have stepped up controls on the transportation of livestock and meat products. The measure was introduced ahead of the traditional autumn livestock slaughter and is aimed primarily at preventing and curbing cattle rustling.
At the checkpoints, police officers inspect vehicles carrying livestock and meat products, as well as documents confirming their origin and the legality of the shipment. If the required documents are missing, the vehicle is taken to the local police department for inspection and to identify the owner of the cargo.
"Mobile checkpoints make it possible to monitor the main routes used to move livestock and meat products. If documents raise questions or are missing, the cargo is checked until its origin and owner are established. Last year, at a checkpoint near Temirtau, police officers found 46 horses that had been stolen in Akmola Region. That is why such checkpoints are of great importance in preventing and solving cattle rustling," said Meirzhan Slambekov, deputy head of the Criminal Police Department of the Karaganda Region Police Department.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the mobile checkpoints will operate until winter sets in.