Dealers of illegal substances online receive 8-year prison term
In a significant development, Court No.2 of Kostanay has concluded a high-profile criminal case involving three local residents. The defendants, A. and F., along with an accomplice, E., were charged with large-scale illegal drug trafficking and money laundering.
The trial, which garnered much attention, began with the defendants admitting partial guilt during the proceedings. It was revealed that A. and F. purchased large quantities of narcotics in Almaty in May 2024 from unknown individuals. They then transported the illicit substances to Kostanay, where they organised their storage and distribution.
The drugs were packaged in zip bags and distributed through a "drop" system, with the defendants creating a Telegram chat for advertising and selling their packaged drugs. E., who saw the advertisement on Telegram, joined the group and agreed to act as the "dropper".
However, E. was not just a facilitator. He was also found to have illegally stored drugs at his home for personal use. The presence of a minor child dependent on E. was considered by the court. No mitigating circumstances were presented for defendants A. and F. during the trial.
The state prosecutor requested a sentence of 8 years in prison for each defendant, and the court ruled to sentence each defendant to 8 years in a medium-security penal institution. In addition, the court ruled to apply an additional penalty of confiscation of the acquired cars for defendants A. and F., as property obtained through criminal activity.
It is important to note that there is no available information in the search results about which organisation originally commissioned suspects A. and F. for the illegal activities, or whether they were connected to a specific criminal organisation.
The verdict in the case is not yet final, and the defendants have the right to appeal. As the case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts required to combat illegal drug trafficking and the devastating impact it has on individuals and communities.
