Kyrgyzstan hands over detained criminal group members to Azerbaijan PHOTO

In a significant development in the fight against organized crime, Kyrgyzstan has handed over five members of an organized criminal group to representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan.

The individuals were detained in Bishkek by employees of the State Committee for National Security (SCNS) of Kyrgyzstan, who thwarted their alleged plans to carry out a contract killing, Caliber.Az reports.

According to reports from Kyrgyz media, the press centre of the SCNS confirmed the transfer of the detained individuals to Azerbaijani authorities. The decision to hand over the individuals was made in accordance with an agreement established with Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies, considering the potential threat posed by the detainees to the citizens of Kyrgyzstan.

The SCNS highlighted that thorough operational and investigative measures were conducted, confirming the involvement of the detained persons in criminal activities. It was determined that the group had arrived in Kyrgyzstan with the intent to spread and solidify their criminal influence, including promoting criminal ideology and potentially executing a contract killing.

The detained individuals, identified as citizens of Azerbaijan, were described by Kyrgyz authorities as members of a "transnational organized crime group" implicated in various illegal activities. The Kyrgyz side emphasized their commitment to combating organized crime and ensuring the safety and security of their citizens.