Kazakhstan uncovers $400M illegal fund transfer scheme
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Prosecutors in Turkistan Region uncovered a scheme that illegally transferred about 200 billion tenge ($400 million) abroad through shell companies. A criminal group also extorted money from truck drivers near the border and paid bribes to officials. Authorities seized contraband cigarettes worth 103 million tenge smuggled from Kyrgyzstan.
The Fund Transfer Scheme
The Department of Economic Investigations of Turkistan Region, coordinated by the regional prosecutor's office, identified an illegal transfer of about 200 billion tenge (approximately $400 million) to countries near and far abroad through fictitious enterprises. A pre-trial investigation has been launched under Article 235-1 of the Criminal Code (illegal export, shipment, and transfer of currency valuables). The scheme involved multiple shell companies, according to the prosecutor's office.
Extortion and Bribery Network
A separate criminal group was found extorting money from truck drivers in the border zone. Investigators established that part of the proceeds from this illegal intermediary activity was passed as bribes to state officials. A total of 23 individuals have been identified as involved, with five currently in custody. The pre-trial investigation covers Articles 366 (bribe-taking) and 367 (bribe-giving) of the Criminal Code, as reported by Vlast.kz.
Cigarette Smuggling Ring
Authorities also dismantled a channel smuggling tobacco products from Kyrgyzstan into Turkistan Region and western Kazakhstan. During operations, they seized cigarettes worth 103 million tenge. The investigation is proceeding under Article 214 (illegal entrepreneurship). Orda.kz noted that the share of illegal cigarettes in Kazakhstan's market could reach 10%, according to TRACIT, costing the budget tens of billions of tenge annually in lost excise and taxes.
What's Next
The pre-trial investigations are ongoing, with authorities working to identify additional participants and trace the full extent of the fund transfers. It remains unclear whether the bribes reached senior officials or if other regions are implicated in similar schemes.
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Kazakhstan uncovers $400M illegal fund transfer scheme
