Five men were detained in Astana on suspicion of selling drugs through the online shop "Pepe". Among the goods, police found biscuits containing cannabis resin. A total of 238 such items were seized.
HOW THE ONLINE SHOP OPERATED
According to data Polisia.kz, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MIA), together with the State Security Service, detained five men over the age of 30. The suspects were found in rented flats in the capital.
According to the police version, the members of the group divided their duties among themselves. One was responsible for organisation, while the others handled packaging, storage and placing the drugs in caches.
The shop operated around the clock. It is believed to have sold marijuana, hashish, cannabis resin and other narcotic substances.
WHAT WAS FOUND DURING THE SEARCHES
The police paid particular attention to biscuits with a cannabis resin filling. Law enforcement officers seized 238 items weighing 100 grammes each.
In addition, about 12 kg of drugs were found in the suspects' flats, including:
- more than 8 kg of marijuana;
- 1.5 kg of hashish;
- 2 kg of cannabis resin.
The police also seized cash, bank cards, phones, electronic scales, packaging materials and equipment for packaging.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION
Law enforcement officers have launched a pre-trial investigation under Article 297 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan ("Illegal manufacture, processing, acquisition, storage, transportation for the purpose of sale, dispatch or sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their analogues").
All five suspects are in custody. Their specific roles and possible penalties are not specified in the statement.
The head of the department of the committee for combating drug crime of the MIA, Bakhytzhan Amirkhanov, said that the ministry continues its work to identify online drug shops and shut down their supply channels.
