A court in Astana has sentenced members of an organized criminal group that sold drugs through the Telegram channel "Pitbullshop," the website infohub.kz reports.
According to Polisia.kz, the media portal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, authorities in the capital shut down the gang, which sold drugs through the Telegram store "Pitbullshop" in Astana and other regions of the country.
Five members of the group, aged between 25 and 40, were identified and detained. "Roles in the group were clearly divided. The 35-year-old organizer ran the criminal operation, controlling supplies and financial flows. A 26-year-old member worked as an operator and promoted the online store. Two men, aged 25 and 40, served as packers and couriers, responsible for setting up stash sites. Another suspect handled retail drug sales and recruited new couriers," transport police said.
According to the investigation, the group set up about two thousand stash sites during its operation, and total turnover from illegal sales exceeded 90 million tenge.
The suspects were detained last summer. During the operation, police found and seized more than 165 grams of marijuana and cannabis resin. They also seized packaging materials, electronic scales, bank cards, cash and other items used in the criminal activity.
The court found all five defendants guilty. The organizer received 17 years in prison, while the other members were each sentenced to 16 years.