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Cocaine Smuggled Into Kazakhstan From Italy and Poland Hidden in Coffee Capsules

One channel of illicit cocaine smuggling into Kazakhstan has been blocked, according to website polisia.kz. In Almaty, authorities found that a rented apartment was being used for the distribution of illegal drugs, which were imported into the country from Italy and Poland. Police seized plastic capsules disguised as coffee - inside of each was a unit of cocaine weighing 250 grams. Furthermore, Almaty police seized a parcel at a Kazpost office that belonged to the suspect. It held plastic jars that contained drugs, the total weight of which was about 0.5-1.0 kilogram (kg) of cocaine and more than 400 grams of ecstasy. In total, that's more than 3,000 single doses. It turned out that the detained foreigner had been acting as a courier for three months. "A pre-trial investigation is being conducted against the detainee for the illegal acquisition and possession of a particularly large amount of narcotic drugs for the purpose of their sale. Further measures are being carried out to establish the channels of cocaine supply in the country," said the deputy head of the department for combating drug crimes of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Bakhytzhan Amirkhanov. Possession and sale of drugs in Kazakhstan is punishable by harsh prison terms ranging between 10 to 15 years and the confiscation of property. According to the latest data, 47 anti-drug operations were carried out last year, including in cooperation with the corresponding authorities of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Australia. Eight international and 14 regional drug-trafficking operations were eliminated. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the annual illicit trafficking of narcotic substances in Kazakhstan amounts to 20-25 tons, 95% of which are from cannabinoid group drugs. Most often they are smuggled into the country from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran via the Caspian Sea. Additionally, the transit of synthetic drugs from Europe is also an issue accounting for about 5% of the total, with less than 1% in the form of opium, heroin, and other types of hard drugs. Also, a number of drug laboratories have been discovered in Kazakhstan itself, with Astana, Almaty and Shymkent considered to be the leaders in terms of production sites and sales of new types of drugs. In total, 67 participants in criminal drug organizations were detained in 2023, and 483.2 kg of psychotropic substances, 11 kg of heroin, 32.8 kg of opium, 63.7 kg of hashish, 41.6 kg of marijuana, more than 17 tons of poppy raw materials and more than 22 tons of chemical reagents seized. At the same time, more than 3,000 people were convicted for crimes related to the trafficking of synthetic drugs. Statistics show that over the last 10 years, the number of drug addicts globally has increased by 23% and reached 296 million people. Currently in Kazakhstan, the illegal drug market has almost completely moved on to cyberspace, making it much more difficult to track down drug dealers.

2 years ago

Reforms

Uzbekistan Launches Reforms to Boost Economy

On February 13th Uzbekistan’s president Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a government meeting to review strategic reforms planned for this year in five key areas — transport, urbanization and town planning, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and energy. The government’s plan "Uzbekistan-2030" aims to increase the country's gross domestic product to $160bn and annual per capita income to $4,000 by 2030, turning Uzbekistan into an upper-middle income country. Transport is seen as a key part of economic development. The landlocked Uzbekistan needs to diversify its air and railway routes. Officials reported that last year six airlines were created and 28 new aircraft were purchased, while the private sector was involved in the management of Samarkand International Airport. Mr Mirziyoyev gave orders to accelerate the transformation of the companies Uzbekistan Airports and Uzbekistan Airways, and to continue transferring airports to the private sector. In the next seven years, the number of cities and districts with a population of more than 300,000 people is projected to increase from the current 13 to 28. Due to the lack of general plans, some cities and towns are expanding only by increasing their area, which leads to higher infrastructure costs and shrinking agricultural land areas. Therefore there is a pressing need to develop a new law on urbanization. The meeting also considered the issue of transferring certain other functions of the state to the private sector, including landscaping and management of free economic zones. Mr Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to create reliable guarantees for investors. “In 2024 we should complete all processes of building the foundation of a market economy and in 2025 bring the national economy to a completely new level of quality,” he commented.

2 years ago

Tourism

Almaty the Most Popular Tourist Destination in Kazakhstan

Over 835,000 foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan from January to September 2023, an increase of more than a third compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan has announced. The ministry revealed the top five most popular destinations in Kazakhstan among foreign tourists. The country’s largest city, Almaty, was in first place with 410,000 tourists. Almaty and its surroundings attract tourists with ski resorts and beautiful nature. Recently Condé Nast Traveler Italia recommended Shymbulak ski resort as one of the world’s top five ski resorts, and The New York Times included Almaty in its list of 52 places worth visiting in 2024. Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, was in second place, with 220,000 foreign guests. The Mangistau region on the shores of the Caspian Sea was in third place, with 35,000. The western Atyrau region was in fourth place, with 25,000 tourists, and the country’s third-largest city, Shymkent, was the fifth destination, with over 20,000 visitors. Nurtas Karipbaev, the chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, commented: “Citizens of 81 countries now enjoy a visa-free entry into Kazakhstan. In the future we plan to increase this figure to 100.” According to the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to September 2023 the majority of travelers visiting Kazakhstan were from Russia — over 350,000. Chinese tourists were in second place (over 75,000), followed by Turkey (over 40,000), India (almost 35,000), and the USA (almost 30,000).

2 years ago

Transport

Kyrgyzstan’s Military Blasts Mountains With Anti-Aircraft Guns for Avalanche Safety

The country's hydro-meteorological center recently announced a storm warning, with worsening weather conditions in the mountains and the risk of avalanches. To ensure the safety of citizens, the military, together with rescuers and public utilities, are working to clear snow. Unstable weather is expected for almost all of February, according to forecasts. That means avalanches are to be expected. Kyrgyzstan's main cities, Bishkek and Osh are connected by a single 620-kilometer highway that passes through picturesque but dangerous mountain passes. It's here in the Too Ashuu and Ala Bel passes that many accidents occur. Multiple avalanches have occurred in the past few days, and temporary restrictions on the passage of heavy trucks have been put in place on some sections of the road, whilst other sections are completely closed until the threat is eliminated, according to the Ministry of Transport. Therefore, the military have been deployed. "Today the task force of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic and artillery of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic fired on the 247th, 255th and 250th kilometers of the Bishkek-Osh highway. As a result, 23,230 cubic meters of snow were dislodged," the Kyrgyz Emergencies Ministry said. According to rescuers, the shelling was delivered by a Soviet-made KC-19 anti-aircraft gun with live fragmentation projectiles. The gun's range is up to 15 kilometers.

2 years ago

Traditions

Kozy Korpesh – Bayan Sulu: Kazakhstan’s Valentine’s Day

February 14th may be the international Valentine's Day which is celebrated all over the world, but Kazakhstan has its own unique day dedicated to love and devotion, Kozy Kөrpesh - Bayan Sulu, which is celebrated on April 15th. The holiday is centered on a legend from an epic poem from the 13th-14th century, which conveys a story of love and strength of spirit. Sometimes likened to a Kazakh Romeo and Juliet, the story tells of two heroes - a young man named Kozy Korpesh and a girl called Bayan Sulu - who fight against prejudice and confront an unrighteous ruler to be together. Their story symbolizes the power of courage in the face of obstacles. In honor of the pair, who, according to a folk legend, were buried in a mausoleum near the village of Tansyk in the East Kazakhstan region, a memorial structure was erected which has been included in the list of historical and cultural monuments and under state protection since 1982. Another monument was erected in the city of Ayagoz in 2013. Each Kazakhstani has his or her own approach to this day. Some, like Valeria from Astana celebrate it with friends. For them, it's not only a day of love, but an opportunity to remember their culture and traditions. "I learned about this legend back in high school. Now, even though I study abroad, I try to get together with friends to celebrate it. For me, it’s a reminder of my homeland." Others, like Sarzhanbek from Almaty, came to appreciate the story later. "The first time I learned about it I was still in school, but I didn't pay much attention to it,” he told TCA. “However, one day, I went to the theater for a production based on this legend. It was very interesting; it's amazing how rich the history of Kazakhstan is." Alua, a student of the Faculty of Pedagogy from Taraz, told TCA that she thinks events dedicated to Kazakhstan's Valentine's Day should be introduced in schools. She believes it is important to preserve and pass on this holiday to younger generations so they can know and respect the traditions of their country. "We should celebrate it, because it’s our traditional holiday,” she told TCA. “Traditions should be remembered and honored.”

2 years ago