A local resident in the Zhetysu region has been detained for storing saiga horns in his attic, valued at 1.2 billion tenge.
"During operational and investigative measures in the Panfilov district, a 39-year-old man was detained. During a search of the attic of the house, seven cardboard boxes wrapped in tape were discovered. Inside these boxes were 464 saiga horns," reported polisia.kz, citing Deputy Head of the Police Department, Eldar Abdikenov.
A forensic biological examination has been ordered for the discovered horns to determine their origin and authenticity.
The preliminary amount of damage is estimated at more than 1.2 billion tenge, but the final amount will be determined based on the examination results.
"The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and all circumstances of the case are being carefully examined. Law enforcement agencies are making every effort to establish all the facts and bring those responsible to justice," the statement said.
Earlier, it was reported that in the first 4 months of this year, 15,200 metres of prohibited fishing nets, 9 tonnes of fish and fish products, approximately 3,500 saiga horns, 135 hunting weapons and 81 cubic metres of illegally harvested timber were seized from illegal circulation.
In March alone, the Border Service Department of the National Security Committee of the Zhetysu region detained three Kazakh citizens in the border zone attempting to export 1,382 saiga horns. The damage to the state was then estimated at more than 3.5 billion tenge. Incidentally, according to our data, one horn on the black market costs around $2,000.