Tengrinews.kz - The criminal case involving an organized crime group consisting of citizens from three countries, engaged in the illegal trafficking of precious metals in Kazakhstan, has been concluded.
Tengrinews.kz - The criminal case involving an organized crime group consisting of citizens from three countries, engaged in the illegal trafficking of precious metals in Kazakhstan, has been concluded.
In 2023, the Main Transport Prosecutor's Office reported the arrest of members of an organized crime group who had been engaged in the illegal trafficking of precious metals in Kazakhstan for an extended period.
It was noted that the members of the criminal group organized the illegal extraction of gold-containing ore from a mine located in the Akmola region. Artisanal raw materials were sent to underground workshops for the production of jewelry, which was sold under the brands of well-known jewelry houses. The products were transported by air and rail.
During the searches, equipment for ore processing, gold bars, over 15 kilograms of jewelry, tags and certificates, 19 tons of ore, 1.5 kilograms of mercury, and more than 20 kilograms of explosives were seized.
"The criminal case against 12 individuals - citizens of Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Russia, suspected of creating a transnational organized crime group that illegally extracted precious metals in the Akmola region from 2021 to 2023 has been concluded," the Prosecutor’s Office reported.
According to the supervisory authority, the total damage exceeded 250 million tenge.
The investigation revealed that the criminal group was involved in illegal gold mining, disguising their activities under a license for geological exploration.
The case has been sent to court.