Police officers, supported by National Guard troops, conducted a special operation to destroy a large drug plantation in the Zhambyl Region, reports infohub.kz.
According to the information media portal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a camouflaged plantation of Indian cannabis was discovered in the region's pre-desert zone, equipped with autonomous power supply and an irrigation system.
Aerial reconnaissance played a key role in uncovering the hidden facility. Thanks to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and the coordinated actions of operatives, the suspect was caught at the scene of the crime.
"He turned out to be a 40-year-old resident of Taraz with multiple prior convictions, who cultivated prohibited plants for subsequent processing and wholesale sale outside the region," the department said.
During the search, 50 two-meter cannabis bushes, 438 kg of marijuana, packaging materials, and special agricultural equipment were seized.
Operatives were particularly drawn to a discovered Makarov pistol with ammunition and filed-off serial numbers. Also seized were a 12-gauge "Baikal" shotgun, ammunition for it, and an SUV used to transport the raw materials.
Criminal cases have been opened against the suspect under Articles 300 and 287 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for illegal cultivation of drugs and weapons storage. The suspect has given a confession and has been placed in a temporary detention facility.
A set of measures is currently being carried out to identify other persons involved in illegal drug trafficking.