In Kokshetau, officers from the anti-drug trafficking department have shut down the sale of a large quantity of the psychotropic substance mephedrone, detaining a 43-year-old man who had previously been convicted but had been granted a deferral of his sentence, infohub.kz reports.
According to the Akmola Region Police Department, the man was caught in the act. During a search, officers seized 22 packets of the banned substance, along with a mobile phone that, according to preliminary information, may have been used in criminal activity.
It is noted that he had previously been repeatedly prosecuted for drug-related crimes. In July of this year, a court found him guilty of selling banned substances and sentenced him to five years and four months in prison.
Given that the man is a widower and is raising a minor child on his own, the court deferred the execution of his sentence for three years.
"However, the suspect did not take advantage of the opportunity granted by the court and, while serving his deferred sentence, resumed his illegal activity. As a result, he was detained during another drug sale. A criminal case has been opened over the incident. For the duration of the pre-trial investigation, the man has been detained and placed in a temporary detention facility," police said.
Police added that the detainee's daughter is also currently serving a sentence for a drug-related crime.
"Drug trafficking carries criminal liability, and the repeated commission of crimes does not exempt a person from the punishment prescribed by law," law enforcement officials reminded.