A Ukrainian citizen has been extradited from Poland to face criminal charges for organizing and leading a transnational criminal group involved in the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as money laundering. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
During the investigation, special prosecutors established that the individual, as the leader of the transnational criminal group, organized systematic contactless sales of drugs and psychotropic substances through the online store Kaef Mafia on the Telegram messenger.
As a result of the criminal activity, over 2.8 billion tenge was transferred through bank accounts, which were moved outside Kazakhstan but later confiscated in favor of the state through measures taken. Additionally, during operational activities, 1.2 kg of drugs and psychotropic substances were seized from members of this criminal group.
After the crimes were committed, some group members were convicted, while the suspect, as the organizer, evaded criminal prosecution and was placed on the international wanted list. In December of last year, he was detained in Poland and extradited to Kazakhstan at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office.
He is currently held in a pre-trial detention facility. The crimes he is charged with carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison with confiscation of property.