The police of Kazakhstan continue their work to identify and seize weapons in illegal circulation. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), since the beginning of 2026, law enforcement agencies have seized 580 units of weapons and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition, some of which were stolen during the January events.
HOW MANY WEAPONS HAVE BEEN SEIZED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR
According to the MIA, since the beginning of 2026, police officers have seized 580 units of various weapons from illegal circulation.
Of this number:
- 63 units are classified as criminal weapons;
- 49 units were previously stolen during the January events.
In addition, law enforcement agencies seized more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
RESULTS OF OPERATION "LAW AND ORDER"
Since 10 March, a republic-wide operational-preventive measure called "Law and Order" has been underway in Kazakhstan, aimed at identifying illegal weapons.
Since the start of the operation, the police have seized:
- 105 units of weapons;
- more than 260 cartridges;
- 13 explosive devices.
Law enforcement agencies also discovered 19 caches containing weapons and ammunition.
Among the weapons found were 1 pistol, 2 rifled carbines, 3 smoothbore shotguns, as well as police equipment and service body armour.
Furthermore, residents of the country voluntarily handed over 10 units of weapons.
WHERE WEAPON CACHES WERE FOUND
Individual cases of weapon discoveries were recorded in several regions of the country.
- 6 March in the Almaty Region, officers from the police department together with the Department of the Committee for National Security (DCNS) discovered a hideout on the outskirts of Konayev city. A carbine was seized from it, which, according to the MIA, was stolen during the January events in Almaty.
- 11 March in the Zhambyl Region, officers of the criminal police discovered weapons on the outskirts of Sarykemer village in the Baizak district on the bank of the Talas River. Hunting shotguns were seized there, which were also stolen during the January events in Taraz.
CHECKS ON CIVILIAN WEAPON OWNERS
As part of preventive measures, the police checked more than 5,000 owners of civilian weapons.
As a result of the checks, more than 70 people were brought to administrative responsibility.
MIA REMINDED ABOUT VOLUNTARY HANDOVER OF WEAPONS
The Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasised that the voluntary surrender of illegally held weapons exempts citizens from criminal and administrative liability.