International sting sees Kazakhstan, Georgia and Türkiye break up criminal syndicate

A large-scale joint operation involving law enforcement agencies from Kazakhstan, Georgia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan has disrupted the activities of a transnational organised criminal group, with suspects linked to a number of serious crimes detained across several countries.

According to Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry, cooperation between the countries intensified following visits by Kazakh delegations led by the interior minister to Georgia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan.

The ministry said the operation was carried out in coordination with Georgian and Turkish law enforcement authorities. In Istanbul, two suspects accused of carrying out the murder of a Kazakh citizen were detained, while the alleged organiser and mastermind of the crime were identified and placed on an international wanted list.

In Almaty, authorities arrested a suspected hitman believed to be connected to the criminal group and wanted in connection with an attempted murder targeting a city resident in August 2025.

Law enforcement officers also detained a group of individuals allegedly involved in a series of armed attacks on business owners.

Additional suspects linked to the organised crime network were detained in Georgia.

Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry said investigative actions related to the case are ongoing.

By Jeyhun Aghazada