Smuggling scheme worth 10 billion uncovered in Almaty

Tengrinews.kz – A verdict has been issued in Almaty in a case involving the smuggling of goods from China and the issuance of fake invoices, according to the Financial Monitoring Agency. The total damage amounted to 10 billion tenge.

Smuggling and fake documents

As established by the Almaty Department of the Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA), the company Group of the Companies TDA, which held the status of an authorized economic operator, organized the illegal import of consumer goods from China. More than 100 containers were smuggled into the country.

In addition, the company used 10 affiliated firms to issue fake invoices, which allowed them to evade payment of VAT, corporate income tax, and customs duties totaling around 10 billion tenge.

Damage recovery and seizures

During the investigation, 643 million tenge was voluntarily reimbursed to the state budget.The court also authorized the seizure of goods worth 1.3 billion tenge, as well as assets belonging to those involved — including land plots, cars, buggies, and tents — totaling 300 million tenge.

Additionally, 47 contracting companies terminated settlements with the firm and voluntarily paid taxes amounting to 240 million tenge.

Court sentence

The Almalinsky District Court of Almaty found the defendants guilty and sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 1 year and 4 months to 4 years and 6 months, with confiscation of property.

One of the individuals involved has been placed on the international wanted list.