Kazakhstan Police Dismantle International Drug Trafficking Network

September 1, 2026 at 03:59 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry dismantled an international drug trafficking network that recruited people through fake employment schemes. The operation, conducted with Ukraine, Albania, Interpol, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, led to 7 arrests and seizure of 24 kg of synthetic drugs. The network operated call centers and promised easy income to lure recruits.

Key Facts

The operation lasted over a year and involved law enforcement agencies from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Albania, Interpol, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
During the operation, 26 searches were conducted in call centers in Ukraine, leading to the seizure of about 4,000 digital evidence items.
Analysis of seized data identified 31 drug shops on Telegram and hundreds of people involved in the criminal scheme.
In May, 70 searches were carried out in Kyiv and Kyiv region, resulting in the identification of 27 members of the criminal group.
In the final stage, 35 more searches were conducted in five regions of Ukraine and Kyiv, leading to the arrest of 7 people and seizure of 24 kg of synthetic drug mixture, over 3,500 handmade cigarettes, and about 2,000 pre-packaged doses.

Network Structure

The criminal group established a legitimate-looking employment service and call center to recruit people into the drug business. Recruits were assigned roles as call center operators, HR managers, chemists, couriers, drug hiders, logisticians, and warehouse workers. The network was organized by a 36-year-old citizen of a neighboring state, according to Kuandyk Alzhanov, deputy chairman of the Interior Ministry's drug crime committee. The criminal structure had strict rules: those who tried to quit were fined, beaten, and illegally detained.

Operation Timeline

In May, Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry representatives participated in 70 searches in Kyiv and Kyiv region, shutting down call centers involved in recruiting people for crime. In July, Ukrainian law enforcement conducted 15 more searches on Kazakh territory, leading to the arrest of people involved in drug sales in Kazakhstan. In the final stage, 35 searches were conducted in five regions of Ukraine and Kyiv, resulting in the arrest of international group members. Seven people were detained and nine people involved in the criminal scheme were charged.