500,000 Drugs With Narcotic Components Seized in Kazakhstan

More than 500,000 drugs containing narcotic components were withdrawn from circulation in Kazakhstan after large-scale inspections of pharmacies, hospitals and businesses, Orda.kz reports.

The inspections were carried out from March 30 to April 3 as part of the "Дәрмeк" operation. During that period, 29 criminal cases were opened: 16 over the illegal trafficking of potent drugs and another 13 against pharmacists who sold them without a prescription.

Authorities seized not only the drugs, but also 1,500 tons of precursors. Seventy-three company heads were held accountable, and materials were also collected against 136 medical workers.

Violations were recorded in several regions.

• In Almaty, potent drugs were sold without prescriptions in four pharmacies.
• In Aktobe, a case was opened against a major pharmaceutical company, where 400,000 drugs were seized.
• In Turkestan region, a company transported 100 tons of sulfuric acid without protection.
• In Abay region, precursors were transported with violations in 11 vehicles with a total weight of 680 tons.

Original author: Natalya Ovchinnikova

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