Kazakhstan tightens law on drug production

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed into law a bill previously approved by the parliament.

The new legislation strengthens penalties for the production and distribution of drugs, with penalties reaching life imprisonment, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

At the same time, the law introduces more lenient punishments for individuals involved in drug trafficking through concealment methods. 

"The law tightens criminal liability for drug production, as well as for the manufacturing, processing, and production of drugs by officials. Now, individuals convicted of these offenses may face imprisonment for a term ranging from 15 to 20 years or a life sentence, along with the confiscation of property," the statement reads. 

The law maintains severe sanctions for individuals involved in drug trafficking as part of a criminal group within educational institutions or among minors, with punishment ranging from 15 to 20 years of imprisonment, as well as property confiscation. 

The law has also intensified criminal liability for officials involved in drug distribution. While previously such offenses carried sentences of 10 to 15 years in prison with property confiscation, the new law now stipulates sentences of 15 to 20 years in prison, along with confiscation of property. At the same time, the punishment for drug dealers has been slightly mitigated. 

For a first offense of this nature, without aggravating circumstances, the law now provides for imprisonment from 5 to 8 years with property confiscation. Previously, the penalty ranged from 5 to 10 years, along with property confiscation.

By Naila Huseynova