Tengrinews.kz — Two suitcases containing cannabis extract were discovered at Almaty International Airport following a flight from Bangkok. According to the Chief Transport Prosecutor's Office, a 22-year-old female citizen of Kazakhstan attempted to smuggle the cargo. The court found her guilty of high-volume drug trafficking and smuggling, sentencing her to 16 years in prison.
Prosecutors state that the woman agreed to transport two suitcases containing cannabis extract from Thailand to Kazakhstan in exchange for a monetary reward. The total weight of the illegal substance was 8.8 kilograms.
"It was established that the young woman agreed to deliver two suitcases containing a total of 8.8 kilograms of cannabis extract to Kazakhstan for a fee. The smuggling attempt was intercepted immediately upon her arrival at the Almaty airport," the prosecutor's office stated.
The criminal case was heard by the Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court of Almaty. Following the proceedings, the court found the defendant guilty of smuggling and illicit trafficking of narcotic substances on an especially large scale. She was sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment.
The supervisory authority also drew attention to common recruitment schemes that social media users may encounter.
"Offers of 'easy money' and free trips circulated on social media are often part of international drug trafficking rings. Regardless of one's specific role in the crime, participation carries strict criminal liability," the Chief Transport Prosecutor's Office warned.
The prosecutor's office specified that the verdict has already entered into legal force.
Notably, Astana Airport recently urged passengers not to agree to transport items for strangers. The warning was prompted by a story widely discussed on social media. A Kazakhstani woman shared that during flight check-in, her husband agreed to carry an electronic smoking device and tobacco sticks to Antalya for an unknown man. Airport authorities later reminded the public that passengers are responsible for the contents of their luggage; therefore, one should never accept items from others, even if the request seems harmless.
In another recent instance, an Astana resident recounted how her husband agreed to help a stranger by delivering a watch. However, according to the author of the post, the Apple Watch placed in the bag mysteriously disappeared before boarding the flight. The social media user shared that they were forced to compensate the owner for the cost of the item.
One of the most high-profile cases of this nature remains that of Akzharkyn Turlybai. In 2014, she was detained at the airport in Guangzhou, China, after drugs were discovered in her luggage. She maintained that she had agreed to carry the bag at the request of acquaintances, believing she was delivering clothing. In 2015, a Chinese court sentenced her to life imprisonment on drug smuggling charges.