The activities of a group engaged in illegal gold mining have been stopped in the Zharma district of Kazakhstan's Abai region. Nine people have come under investigation, reports Zakon.kz, citing Kazakhstan's Agency for Financial Monitoring (AFM).
The illegal works were carried out about 10 km from the village of Zhangiztobe without the relevant permit. Gold-bearing ore was extracted by open-pit mining and washed using special equipment. A pit 15 metres deep was found at the site.
According to the AFM, the volume of illegally extracted rock exceeded 12 thousand cubic metres, and the area of damaged fertile topsoil amounted to more than 4 thousand square metres.
During operational and investigative activities, equipment for washing and crushing ore, seven sacks containing gold, two metal detectors, two loaders and an excavator were seized from the suspects.
The investigation is ongoing. The AFM is not disclosing other details of the case in accordance with Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Kazakhstan.
