Law enforcement officers in Karasay and Uygur districts of Almaty region have apprehended two criminal groups involved in large-scale cattle theft, reports Todayinfo.
It was established that the perpetrators operated using a pre-planned method: they selected unattended livestock grazing freely in steppe areas, herded them onto nearby highways, and loaded them into a waiting truck.
The stolen livestock was then transported to neighboring districts and sold to local residents. Currently, the detainees' involvement has been proven in the theft of 69 heads of small ruminants valued at over 7 million tenge, as well as 43 heads of cattle worth approximately 20 million tenge. All suspects have been arrested.
According to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, cattle theft is punishable by imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property. We urge owners of agricultural animals to pay special attention to security issues: it is necessary to brand livestock and, if possible, ensure control over pastures, — stated the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Previously, a group attempting to illegally smuggle 1,000 head of cattle across the border was detained in Turkestan region.
