Kazakh police seize over 1,700 weapons from illegal circulation in 2026

September 26, 2026 at 10:57 AM2 min

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

Kazakhstan's Interior Ministry reported that police have seized more than 1,700 weapons used for criminal purposes since the start of 2026. The seizures include 34 assault rifles, 458 pistols, over 1,000 rifles, three grenade launchers, and nearly 12,000 rounds of ammunition. Authorities are also focusing on recovering weapons stolen during the January 2022 unrest, with 152 such weapons seized this year.

Key Facts

Police have seized more than 1,700 weapons used for criminal purposes since the start of 2026, according to the Interior Ministry.
The seized arsenal includes 34 assault rifles, 458 pistols, over 1,000 rifles, three grenade launchers, and nearly 12,000 rounds of ammunition.
Since the beginning of 2026, police have removed 152 weapons stolen during the January 2022 unrest from illegal circulation.
In September alone, police seized nine additional weapons linked to the January 2022 events.
In August, police in Almaty and Ust-Kamenogorsk seized three weapons from two residents of Almaty region that had been stolen from Almaty gun shops during the January events.

Seized Arsenal

The Interior Ministry reported that police have seized more than 1,700 weapons used for criminal purposes since the start of 2026. The seized weapons include 34 assault rifles, 458 pistols, over 1,000 rifles, three grenade launchers, and nearly 12,000 rounds of ammunition. The ministry stated that countering illegal arms trafficking remains a priority for police.

January 2022 Weapons Recovery

Authorities are paying special attention to locating weapons stolen during the January 2022 unrest. Since the beginning of 2026, police have removed 152 such weapons from illegal circulation. In September alone, nine additional weapons linked to the January events were seized. In August, police in Almaty and Ust-Kamenogorsk seized three weapons from two residents of Almaty region that had been stolen from Almaty gun shops during the January events.

Recent Cases

In early September, a local resident was detained in Taraz for keeping a Makarov pistol at home. Police determined that the pistol was among weapons stolen in January 2022 in Zhambyl region. The suspects have been arrested and an investigation is underway. A nationwide campaign for voluntary surrender of illegally held weapons, launched on April 20, has resulted in citizens handing over more than 900 weapons.