Officers of the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) have shut down the activities of a group which, according to the investigation, was illegally mining gold in the Zharma district of the Abai region. Law enforcement officers identified nine individuals involved and discovered a pit 15 metres deep.
HOW THE GOLD MINING WAS ORGANISED
According to the AFM, the illegal operations were carried out 10 km from the village of Zhangiztobe without the appropriate permit. Gold-bearing ore was extracted by open-cast methods and then washed using special equipment.
The group's activities were shut down by officers of the AFM department for the Abai region, coordinated by the prosecutor's office.
WHAT DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO THE SITE
An inspection of the territory showed that the depth of the resulting pit reached 15 metres, and the volume of illegally extracted rock mass exceeded 12,000 cubic metres.
The area of the damaged fertile soil layer amounted to more than 4,000 square metres. The agency does not provide a monetary valuation of the damage caused.
WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS SEIZED
AFM officers identified nine people who, according to the investigation, were involved in the illegal mining.
At the site, equipment for washing and crushing ore was found and seized, along with seven sacks of material containing gold, two metal detectors, two loaders and an excavator.
AT WHAT STAGE IS THE INVESTIGATION
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
The remaining information is not disclosed in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
