Cigarette Smuggling Case Cost Budget More Than One Billion Tenge, Suspect Extradited From Russia
Photo: Prosecutor General’s Office
A suspect in a cigarette smuggling case has been extradited from Russia to Kazakhstan. Investigators say the state budget lost more than one billion tenge in excise tax as a result of his alleged actions, Orda.kz reports.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, in 2023 the man transported unmarked tobacco products in Kazakhstan and prepared them for export to Russia for further sale.
After that, he fled and was placed on the international wanted list. In April 2025, he was detained in Russia and later extradited at Kazakhstan’s request.
He is now being held in a pre-trial detention center. If convicted, he could face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Original author: Elvira Ivannikova
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