The National Security Committee (NSC) has reported the dismantling of international and regional drug supply routes into Kazakhstan. Since April 2026, the agency's officers have detained suspects involved in the smuggling and distribution of narcotic substances, and have also seized large quantities of banned substances and precursors.
WHAT OPERATIONS DID THE NSC CARRY OUT
According to the NSC press service, since April 2026, the agency has eliminated 9 international and 2 regional drug supply channels. Agency officers also neutralised the activities of one phytolaboratory.
As part of one operation, a foreign national was detained at Aktau Airport. According to the investigation, he was attempting to transport 114 capsules of opium, with a total weight of 1 kg, inside his body.
Another arrest occurred at Astana Airport. According to the NSC, a citizen of Kazakhstan delivered 12 kg of hashish oil from a country in South Asia.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE SUSPECTS
In addition to individual incidents, the NSC reported the suppression of an organised criminal group. The investigation suspects its members of smuggling and distributing large quantities of "poppy straw", as well as producing narcotic substances from this raw material.
23 citizens of Kazakhstan and 3 foreign nationals have been detained on suspicion of committing these offences. Pre-trial investigations are being conducted into all the incidents.
No further information is being disclosed in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
WHAT VOLUMES OF DRUGS WERE SEIZED
According to the intelligence service, the following items were seized during the operations:
- 3.4 kg of opium;
- 9 kg of hashish;
- 11.4 kg of synthetic drugs;
- 18.5 kg of hashish oil;
- 26.4 kg of marijuana;
- 110 g of cocaine;
- 20 tonnes of poppy straw;
- more than 150 litres of precursors.