Illegal export of fuels and lubricants remains one of the areas of work for law enforcement agencies in Kazakhstan. Since the beginning of the year, 712 attempts to illegally export fuel have been prevented, and an investigation into one of the major criminal cases involving petrol smuggling has been completed.
WHAT RESULTS HAVE BEEN RECORDED
The Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA), together with the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and the Border Service of the National Security Committee (BS NSC), have prevented 712 attempts to illegally export fuels and lubricants outside the country since the start of the year. In addition, 8 pre-trial investigations have been initiated into cases of illegal trafficking and smuggling of petroleum products.
In the Mangystau Region, the activities of an illegal mini-refinery were uncovered, which, according to the FMA, had processed more than 28,500 tonnes of unaccounted-for oil since 2022. It is reported that the produced goods were exported abroad under the guise of fuel oil.
WHAT CRIMINAL CASES HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED
In the Turkestan Region, the activities of a transnational criminal group were foiled, which had organised the smuggling of petrol into Uzbekistan through a specially equipped tunnel under the state border. The guilty parties have been sentenced to long terms of imprisonment.
An investigation has also been concluded into a group involved in smuggling AI-92 petrol into Kyrgyzstan. According to the investigation, the total volume of illegally exported fuel exceeded 190,000 tonnes, and its value amounted to 37 billion tenge.
WHAT HAPPENED AT TURKSIB STATION
During another export attempt at Turksib station, 8 railway tankers containing illegal petrol with a total volume of around 500 tonnes were seized.
The value of the confiscated fuel amounted to 138 million tenge. The petrol has been confiscated for the benefit of the state.
CONTEXT
The inter-agency operation Perekot is being conducted to identify and prevent the illegal export of fuels and lubricants outside Kazakhstan. It involves the FMA, the MIA and the BS NSC.
