Officers of the Drug Crime Control Committee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the police department of the Almaty region, stopped the activities of a criminal group that organized a full cycle of illegal drug production. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
The criminal group carried out all stages: from covert cultivation of narcotic plants to selling finished products to VIP clients.
"The destroyed phytolaboratory was equipped with an automated ventilation system, sensors for controlling temperature, lighting and watering. It grew high-concentration varieties of narcotic plants all year round," the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
During a search of a basement with a hidden separate entrance, 29 cannabis bushes, 27 kg of finished products, modern cultivation equipment, electronic media, communication devices, three million tenge in cash obtained through criminal means, as well as unregistered weapons with ammunition were seized.
"The organizer of the phytolaboratory, a 40-year-old man, had long studied the technology of growing cannabis-type drugs and planned to expand the covert production in a specially built separate building with an area of over 100 square meters on a land plot," police said.
For this purpose, he specially traveled to distant foreign countries, consulted with industry specialists, ordered special equipment for growing elite cannabis varieties, introduced modern technologies, and improved methods of processing high-concentration narcotic raw materials into cannabinoid extracts and oils.
"During operational and investigative measures, his criminal connection was identified, and a 45-year-old man, previously convicted several times for especially serious crimes, was detained. During a search of his garage, 4 kg of hashish wrapped in tape, as well as packaged narcotic products, zip bags, and drug paraphernalia were seized," the statement said.
Currently, investigative actions are underway. The suspects have been placed in a temporary detention facility. Property and expensive cars purchased through criminal means have been seized.