A criminal group that accepted payments and transferred money for an online drug store has been dismantled in Aktobe. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to the investigation, a resident of Aktobe created a money exchange group on social media and recruited seven accomplices. Group members divided responsibilities among themselves and worked day and night shifts. Thus they accepted payments and transferred money around the clock.
How the criminal scheme worked
Operators of the online store directed buyers to this exchange group to pay for orders. After payment confirmation, buyers were sent coordinates of locations where drugs were hidden.
"The exchange group conducted from 50 to 70 payment transactions daily. To receive money, they used 22 bank cards opened in the names of other people — droppers," the statement said.
The received money was then exchanged for cryptocurrency and transferred to crypto wallets controlled by people managing the drug trade. The total amount transferred exceeded 918 thousand USDT. This is equivalent to more than 400 million tenge.
Criminal case
The organizer of the criminal activity has been taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing.