Georgia extradites suspect in major criminal network to Kazakhstan PHOTO

Georgia has extradited to Kazakhstan a man suspected of belonging to an organised criminal group involved in the production and distribution of psychotropic substances and the laundering of criminal proceeds, according to Kazakhstan's Prosecutor General's Office.

Investigators allege that the suspect was a member of a criminal network that organised the large-scale production of psychotropic drugs. The mephedrone produced by the group was distributed through dead-drop locations in the Almaty Region and the city of Almaty, Caliber.Az reports per Kazakh media.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers seized nearly 10 kilograms of mephedrone from members of the group.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the proceeds from the illegal operation were laundered through various financial transactions, including cryptocurrency exchange services. The total value of those transactions exceeded 1.8 billion tenge (about $3.8 million).

The suspects also purchased real estate, business assets and vehicles worth more than 600 million tenge (approximately $1.27 million). The property has been frozen pending confiscation by the state.

Some members of the criminal group have already been brought to trial, while others—including the extradited suspect—had previously been placed on the international wanted list.

The suspect was arrested in Georgia in January and, following his extradition, was placed in pretrial detention. He faces charges of participation in an organised criminal group, large-scale trafficking of psychotropic substances and money laundering. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison with confiscation of property.

By Jeyhun Aghazada