More than 160,000 tonnes of petroleum products worth approximately 45 billion tenge ($100 million) were illegally exported from Kazakhstan between 2019 and 2023.

The products were transported abroad by tanker through the port of Aktau, according to Sputnik Kazakhstan.

As part of the criminal case, authorities confiscated mini oil refineries, a tanker and other assets belonging to those involved in the scheme.

More than 2 billion tenge ($4.4 million) in illegal proceeds and unpaid taxes has also been recovered in favour of the state.

Five members of the group were sentenced to eight years in prison.

The organizer of the operation has been placed on an international wanted list.