In Almaty, the activities of an organised criminal group (OCG) operating under the cover of a security business have been stopped.
According to Polisia.kz, the joint operation was carried out by officers from the Department for Combating Organised Crime (DCOC) and the Department of the National Security Committee (DNSC), coordinated by the prosecutor's office.
As reported, the illegal activities of the security company, which was controlled by members of the criminal underworld, have been shut down.
The OCG members sought to take control of small and medium-sized businesses, particularly entertainment venues. To achieve this, they applied physical and psychological pressure on owners and staff, including threats and violence. They then forced the venues to accept their "security services".
Law enforcement officers detained 20 members of the group in Almaty, the Zhetysu region, as well as in the Turkestan, Mangystau, Zhambyl and Almaty regions.
Operatives conducted more than 40 searches. They seized seven firearms, including three sawn-off shotguns, a Makarov pistol, a Kalashnikov assault rifle and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.
Criminal cases have been opened against the suspects for hooliganism, extortion, kidnapping, arbitrary action (vigilantism) and causing bodily harm.
Furthermore, a pre-trial investigation has been launched against the leader and a number of active participants for creating, leading and participating in an OCG. The suspects are also being checked for involvement in other similar crimes.