Nearly Two Tons of Police Uniforms Seized at Kazakhstan–China Border

Kazakhstan customs officers have detained a large shipment of police uniforms at the Khorgos International Center for Border Cooperation (ICBC) after an attempt to smuggle the goods into the country from China. The total weight of the seized clothing was 1,775 kilograms, Orda.kz reports. 

According to the State Revenue Committee, the incident occurred on April 27, when a vehicle transporting visitors’ purchases from the Chinese side into Kazakhstan was stopped for inspection at the Khorgos customs post.

During the check, officers found 71 packages of clothing marked with the official insignia of Kazakhstan’s police, (the word "Polisia").

According to current regulations, individuals visiting Khorgos ICBC may hand over their purchases to a carrier for cross-border delivery. However, in this case, the goods discovered fall under import restrictions. Uniforms bearing official symbols are not considered personal items and require a special import procedure, the committee explained. 

The uniforms have been placed in temporary storage, and customs authorities are now investigating the legal basis for the attempted import.

Previously, Majilis deputies and Interior Ministry officials raised concerns over police uniforms being sold openly in Kazakhstan. Such accessibility has led to incidents where individuals wear the uniforms as part of wedding pranks, undermining the image of law enforcement.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny