The Department of the Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM) in Almaty has shut down a group involved in the illegal trade of electronic nicotine delivery systems (vapes), flavourings, and liquids for them.
According to the agency's press office, the banned products were sold via the Telegram channel 'ESCOBAR OPTOM' and subsequently delivered by courier.
As a result of operational and investigative measures, law enforcement officers identified warehouses and points of sale. During a search, more than 150,000 vapes were seized; the revenue from their sale could have exceeded 1 billion tenge.
It is noted that the products were actively distributed among minors, including school pupils.
"The organisers of the shadow business deliberately supplied electronic cigarettes to teenagers, exposing their health to serious risk," the statement said.
It will be recalled that in June, the AFM Department for the Pavlodar region eliminated a criminal group involved in the illegal trade of vapes, flavourings, and liquids for them. Agency staff identified warehouses for storing the products and seized more than 155,000 vapes, with an estimated value exceeding 1.6 billion tenge.
Later, in the Pavlodar region, a group of individuals involved in the illegal trade of electronic vapes, flavourings, and liquids for them in the Ekibastuz area was identified. Law enforcement officers discovered a warehouse and points of sale, seizing more than 5,600 vape units and their components. The potential revenue was over 100 million tenge.
In July, the AFM Department for the Aktobe region and the border service of Kazakhstan prevented an attempt to illegally import vapes. At the Zhaissan-Avtomobilny border checkpoint, two trucks travelling from Russia were detained.
A large consignment of banned products was found in the vehicles: 13,000 vapes; 2,000 units of vape liquid; and 14,000 units of non-combustible tobacco products.