District Court No 2 of the Enbekshikazakh District in the Almaty Region found citizen Sh guilty of illegally planting and growing narcotic-containing plants on an especially large scale.[1] The court found that in spring 2025 he illegally planted and grew cannabis plants on the land of a peasant farm in the Enbekshikazakh District.[2] Officers found the 233 cannabis bushes hidden among rows of corn during a special operation by the Interior Ministry’s drug-crime department together with the National Security Committee.[3] In August 2025, during a special operation by National Security Committee and Almaty Region police officers, a 36-year-old local resident was detained.[4] On a plot of 4.5 hectares among the corn, police found the 233 cannabis bushes and seized 58 test tubes of marijuana seeds from a makeshift hut.[4]

Police seized 233 narcotic-containing bushes during the investigative actions.[1] The police report identified the field as belonging to a 36-year-old local resident, who was detained and taken to the Shelek police station, where a criminal case was opened.[3] A forensic examination identified the seized plants as the narcotic cannabis with a total mass of more than 49 kilograms, a specially large amount.[2]

At trial the defendant fully admitted guilt and repented.[1] His guilt was confirmed by the case evidence, including records of the scene inspection, expert findings and witness testimony.[1] The court qualified his actions under point 2 of part 3 of Article 300 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code, illegal planting and growing of prohibited narcotic-containing plants on an especially large scale.[1]

Taking account of the nature of the crime and mitigating circumstances, the court sentenced him to 7 years’ imprisonment in a medium-security penal institution.[1] The court also ordered him to pay the procedural costs of the expert examinations and a compulsory payment to the Victims’ Compensation Fund, and ordered the physical evidence destroyed.[1] The verdict had not entered into legal force and could be appealed through the established procedure.[1]