Authorities in East Kazakhstan have uncovered two cases of illegal gold mining, including a major operation in the Shybынды River valley in Ulan district, where offenders extracted gold without a license for two years. According to Timur Mukanov, deputy head of the regional Department of Economic Investigations, the group altered the riverbed and caused significant environmental damage, with total losses estimated at 400 million tenge.
During the investigation, officials confiscated 6.7 kilograms of gold, specialized equipment, machinery, and $56,000 in cash. The organizers of the illegal mining scheme have been detained, and the criminal case is being prepared for court.
The department emphasized the importance of strict oversight to prevent unlawful extraction of precious metals. Regional environmental authorities noted that earlier violations in the mining sector had resulted in 9.7 million tenge in fines for companies and individuals in East Kazakhstan.
