A large shipment of laughing gas — the illegal sale of which is now a criminal offense — was discovered in a warehouse in Kazakhstan’s Aktobe region. Police seized more than 1,000 cylinders of nitrous oxide imported from Russia.
The operation was carried out as part of efforts to combat drug crime and restrict the circulation of potent substances. During the investigation, law enforcement officers found two cargo tanks and 1,033 gas cylinders in one of the warehouses.
Criminal liability introduced in 2026
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said that, alongside efforts to combat illegal drug trafficking, police have tightened control over substances that may pose a danger to public health.
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Legislative amendments that took effect Jan. 1, 2026, introduced criminal liability for the illegal trafficking of potent substances, including nitrous oxide. As a result, the storage, transportation and sale of laughing gas without permits may lead to criminal prosecution.
