Police Officer Tried to Sell Marijuana to Improve Department Performance

A high-ranking police officer in Kazakhstan attempted to sell marijuana in order to artificially boost his department’s performance metrics. The officer, whose name has not been disclosed, led the narcotics division at a police station in the Zhambyl region. His team was tasked with cracking down on illegal drug trafficking.

To impress his superiors, the officer purchased just over 1 kilogram of marijuana and planned to hand it over to a known repeat offender for further distribution. The officer’s intention was to later arrest the buyers of the cannabis and charge them, thereby inflating his department’s success rate. However, the plan fell apart when his colleagues discovered his scheme and apprehended him after he acquired the marijuana.

The court found the officer guilty of possessing a large quantity of narcotics and handed down a harsh sentence. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, as the penalty for such an offense in Kazakhstan ranges from 10 to 15 years. One of the aggravating factors was his violation of the oath he had taken as a law enforcement officer.

No Plans for Cannabis Legalization in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan, like most other Asian countries, is known for its strict drug laws. Growing cannabis can result in up to eight years in prison, possession can lead to a maximum of 15 years, and selling marijuana is punishable by life imprisonment.

Despite decades of a harsh war on cannabis, underground cultivation continues to thrive in Kazakhstan. This year alone, police destroyed more than 15,000 cannabis plants worth 7.5 billion tenge (about 1.5 billion rubles) during a single operation.

Nevertheless, the Kazakh authorities have no plans to liberalize marijuana laws. Minister of Internal Affairs Yerzhan Sadenov stated that legalizing cannabis is not possible, as it contradicts the positions of the World Health Organization and law enforcement officials. However, Sadenov supports removing criminal penalties for using cannabis and other drugs in public places, suggesting that administrative penalties would be more appropriate. Currently, such offenses can result in up to 20 days of arrest, fines, or community service.