Unlawful drug vendors given an 8-year jail sentence for their online activities.
In a significant development, the trial of a high-profile criminal case involving three local residents - A., F., and E. - has concluded in Court No.2 of Kostanay. The case, which involved illegal drug trafficking and money laundering, saw the involvement of local law enforcement agencies, the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, and judicial authorities in Kostanay.
The investigation revealed that A. and F. bought large quantities of narcotics in Almaty from unknown individuals in May 2024. They then transported these illicit substances to Kostanay, where they organised their storage and distribution. The drugs were advertised and sold through a Telegram chat, with the group using a "drop" system and packaging them in zip bags.
The three defendants partially admitted their guilt during the trial. E., who joined the group after seeing their advertisement on Telegram, agreed to act as a "dropper". The court took into account the nature of the crimes, their public danger, and the absence of mitigating circumstances for A. and F.
The state prosecutor requested an 8-year prison sentence for each defendant, a request that was granted. Each defendant was sentenced to serve an 8-year prison term in a medium-security penal institution.
The money earned from the drug sales was laundered by A. and F. through the purchase of two cars. In addition to the prison sentences, the court ruled that these purchased cars, acquired through criminal activity, should be confiscated as an additional penalty.
The court also considered E.'s responsibility as a parent of a minor in its ruling. E. was found to have illegally stored drugs at his home for personal use, a factor that was taken into account in his sentencing.
The verdict in the case is not yet final. The confiscated assets and vehicles will be subject to further investigation and potential seizure before a final ruling is made.
