Kazakhstan border guards thwart 411 attempts to smuggle fuel abroad

Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee (NSC) border service thwarted 411 attempts to illegally export fuel and lubricants from the country between August 1 and 10, the NSC press service said.

Authorities said some smugglers attempted to transport fuel using vehicles modified to carry additional quantities. Photographs released by the NSC showed, among other examples, a truck fitted with an additional fuel tank, Caliber.Az reports.

During the same 10-day period, border guards also detected 140 violations involving the movement of other goods across Kazakhstan’s borders.

“The perpetrators have been held accountable in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” the NSC said.

Kazakhstan has prohibited the export of fuel by any means of transport for several years, with an exception for fuel contained in a vehicle’s standard factory-installed tank.

The restrictions were introduced primarily to combat fuel smuggling. For years, Kazakhstan maintained regulated domestic prices for gasoline and diesel that were significantly below those in neighbouring countries, creating incentives for illegal cross-border exports.

Although the government has largely lifted direct price regulation, fuel remains relatively inexpensive in Kazakhstan compared with prices in neighbouring markets.

The NSC said enforcement measures are continuing as authorities seek to prevent the illegal movement of fuel and other goods across the country’s borders.

Currently, AI-92 gasoline costs up to 250 tenge (about $0.50) per litre, while diesel fuel costs up to 345 tenge (about $0.70) per litre.

By Sabina Mammadli