Migrants transported by snowmobiles: Interior Ministry conducts large-scale special operation
Tengrinews.kz — The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan has reported on a series of special operations carried out in several regions of the country. As a result, the activities of criminal groups involved in illegal migration and unlawful border crossings were stopped, citing Polisia.kz.
According to the Interior Ministry, the suspects organized stable schemes for the illegal transportation and legalization of foreign nationals in exchange for money, bypassing established migration procedures.
Arrests across the regions
On January 22, citizens of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries were detained in the Pavlodar region. The investigation found that they had organized a channel for illegal border crossings through the territory of Kazakhstan.
To avoid official border checkpoints, the suspects used various types of transport, including snowmobiles, allowing them to move through hard-to-reach areas outside migration control.
On January 26, in the North Kazakhstan region, a citizen of a neighboring country who had previously been deported from Kazakhstan was detained. Despite a ban on entry, he had changed his passport data and re-entered the country under a different surname in an attempt to evade control.
On the same day, in the city of Kossy in the Akmola region, law enforcement officers shut down the activities of a group involved in the illegal legalization of foreign nationals. The suspects forged documents and created fictitious grounds for foreign citizens to remain in Kazakhstan.
Seized evidence and criminal cases
During searches, investigators seized cars and a snowmobile, foreign passports, electronic data storage devices, office equipment, as well as a large number of stamps from medical institutions. These stamps were used to produce fake certificates and documents that created the appearance of legal residence for foreign nationals.
The main organizers of the criminal schemes have been arrested by court order. Criminal cases have been opened on all identified facts.