The State Revenue Committee (SRC) did not provide the FBRK with information on the customs clearance of six foreign tractor units, for which the company was charged more than KZT 20.5 million in utilisation fees. The Ministry of Transport, in turn, stated that verifying information about the registration of different vehicles with identical VIN codes is not within its competence.
WHY QUESTIONS AROSE ABOUT STATE DATABASES
The FBRK previously reported that VEKTOR SHIPPING Co LLP temporarily imported into Kazakhstan six leased tractor units from Russia and Belarus, which, according to the company, were returned to their owners after the lease expired. Later, the same VIN codes appeared in Kazakh databases under other owners.
On 29 September 2026, a court recovered from the company KZT 20.59 million in utilisation fees and KZT 617,718 in state duty. The decision did not specify whether the removal of the tractor units had been confirmed.
In order to clarify these circumstances and understand how government agencies exchange information about such vehicles, the FBRK sent requests to state bodies.
WHY THE SRC REFUSED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION
In its response, the committee cited Article 25 of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which provides for the free movement of goods between the territories of member states without customs declaration and state control, except in cases provided for by the treaty.
In addition, the SRC pointed to Article 19 of the Code "On Customs Regulation in the Republic of Kazakhstan". It regulates the use and protection of information obtained by state revenue bodies. According to the response, such information may not be disclosed or transferred to third parties, except in cases provided for by law.
As a result, the committee stated that it was not possible to provide the information requested by the editorial team within its competence. Thus, the editorial team did not receive confirmation that the original vehicles left the country in the prescribed manner, but the committee also did not provide information refuting the carrier's position.
WHAT THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT RESPONDED
The Ministry of Transport stated that the rules for admitting road carriers to international freight transport regulate the issuance of admission cards for operating on the relevant routes.
In particular, paragraph 9 of the Rules approved by order of the Minister of Transport and Communications dated 24 August 2011 No. 523 does not provide for the issuance of such cards for certain categories of leased vehicles owned by foreign persons, as well as vehicles under temporary state registration in Kazakhstan.
However, on the main issue — the appearance of identical VIN codes in the registration data of different vehicles — the agency stated that maintaining such records and verifying the relevant information is not within its competence. The ministry does not possess information on this matter.
In the request, the editorial team also asked whether there had been any reports since 2023 of matching VIN codes, what measures had been taken, and whether the ministry was considering data exchange between agencies. The agency did not answer these questions.
WHO SHOULD VERIFY THE HISTORY OF VEHICLES
Thus, the question of how the same VIN codes ended up in Kazakh databases under different vehicles remains open. Neither the SRC nor the Ministry of Transport provided the editorial team with information that would help clarify this situation.
On 22 October 2026, VEKTOR SHIPPING Co LLP also sent applications to the police departments (PD) of the Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions, asking them to investigate the alleged forgery of VIN codes and documents during the registration of two vehicles.
So far, the court has recovered the utilisation fee from the carrier, but questions about the origin of the registration records and the circumstances surrounding the appearance of vehicles with matching VINs remain open. The company's claims of forged identification numbers also require verification and cannot be considered established facts.
The FBRK editorial team will continue to monitor the development of the situation.
