A criminal group engaged in smuggling and illegal migration on border with Uzbekistan detained in Kazakhstan

Up to 150 trucks passed through the customs post per day, for each suspect they charged a fee of almost 5 million soums.

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan detained a group of people involved in smuggling and organizing illegal migration at the “Kazygurt” customs post in the Turkestan region, bordering Uzbekistan, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan reported. 

The suspects, using corruption connections at the customs post, under the guise of providing brokerage services, carried out illegal import of goods using forged documents.

For the unhindered entry and exit of one truck, they charged up to 200,000 tenge (4.8 million soums), depending on the cargo being transported, which subsequently affected the increase in the cost of goods. During the day, up to 150 vehicles passed through the customs post.

In addition, the wrongdoers provided criminal protection for the illegal crossing of the state border to citizens of Uzbekistan.

During the searches, a large sum of money, firearms and cold steel, records of the “black cash register”, passports of foreign citizens, as well as special technical device were seized from the suspects.

Currently, an investigation is ongoing.