The Prosecutor's Office of Aktobe Region together with the police department and the department of economic investigations have shut down the activities of an organised criminal group involved in the sale of psychotropic substances via the internet.
HOW THE CRIMINAL GROUP OPERATED
According to the prosecutor's office, the scheme was built on a systematic basis using the Telegram messenger and operated on the principle of "contactless sales."
Orders were taken remotely, and payments were made through the bank cards of money mules.
During operational and investigative measures, 6 members of the criminal group were identified and detained in the territories of Karaganda, North Kazakhstan, Akmola and Aktobe regions, as well as in the city of Astana. More than 10 kg of psychotropic substances were seized from illegal circulation.
RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION
In September 2025, special prosecutors from Aktobe Region completed the investigation of a criminal case against an organised group involved in the sale of psychotropic substances through the online store "Qymyz shop", which operated nationwide. The case materials were sent to court.
On 17 March 2026, the Specialised Inter-District Criminal Court of Aktobe Region found all members of the group guilty. They were sentenced to imprisonment for terms ranging from 15 to 17 years.
PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Since the beginning of 2026, the regional prosecutor's office, together with law enforcement agencies and the public, has been conducting systematic work to combat drug crime:
- more than 20 graffiti advertisements for online drug shops were identified and removed, with 2 pre-trial investigations initiated in connection with these incidents;
- over 500 preventive measures were carried out, including 300 lectures in educational institutions, 80 meetings and 4 competitions, reaching more than 13,000 people;
- approximately 16,000 schoolchildren watched preventive films;
- 2,000 bank accounts and 34,000 foreign cards were blocked, totalling 65.5 million tenge;
- through the "Cybersurveillance" system, access was restricted to 260 Telegram channels and internet resources that advertised and distributed drugs.