No quiet retirement: Southern police bust pensioner with 5 kg of hashish

Police in Taldykorgan, southern Kazakhstan, have detained a 62-year-old woman on suspicion of drug trafficking.

Read also: Industrial hemp: 218 varieties you can cultivate in Central Asia.

Law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of about 5 grams of drugs before searching the suspect’s home. During the search, officers discovered a bag containing more than 5 kilograms of hashish in a shed on the property.

Authorities also found six additional bags of herbal narcotics inside the home.

Investigation underway

«A pretrial investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances of the case,» the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

Due to the suspect’s health condition, she has been placed under house arrest.

Potential sentence and broader concerns

If convicted, the woman faces up to 12 years in prison, along with confiscation of property.

The case comes amid broader concerns about shifting drug distribution patterns. As Kursiv.media previously reported, the move to online drug sales has expanded the problem beyond city outskirts and disadvantaged communities.