Officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs' drug crime unit carried out a preventive operation codenamed "Därmeck".
According to polisia.kz, they identified 22 offences related to the trafficking of narcotic and poisonous substances. 230 individuals were brought to administrative responsibility, including 48 medical workers.
Due to violations of storage conditions, 43 kg of narcotic and psychotropic substances, over 9,000 tablets, and approximately 15,000 ampoules of medicinal products were seized.
Furthermore, due to breaches of licensing regulations and storage requirements, more than 3 tonnes of precursors were removed from circulation. For example, during an inspection at an industrial site in the North Kazakhstan region, 45 kg of mercury, which was being stored improperly, was discovered and seized.
During an inspection of a medical organisation in the capital, police also uncovered violations of the rules for storing narcotic drugs and seized 350 ampoules of morphine. Meanwhile, the prosecutor's office of the Mangystau region identified a pharmacy operating without a licence. Its owners were storing expired medicinal products "Tropicamide" and selling them without a prescription (over 45,000 packages - 55% of the total volume purchased in the region).
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For reference: Tropicamide is a potent substance that enhances the effect of narcotics.
According to the press service of the regional prosecutor's office, the owner of the pharmacy was held administratively liable under Part 1 Article 464 ("Violation of licensing standards") and Parts 1 and 3 of Article 426 of the Administrative Code ("Violation of rules for pharmaceutical activities and the circulation of medicinal products and medical devices"). The entrepreneur's business activities were suspended for a period of 3 months.