Police in Kazakhstan's Almaty Region have dismantled two organized cattle theft groups operating in the Karasay and Uyghur districts.

Investigators say the suspects followed a coordinated scheme: they targeted freely grazing livestock, drove the animals toward highways, and then loaded them into waiting trucks for transport, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The stolen cattle were reportedly moved to neighboring areas and sold for profit.

The suspects are linked to the theft of 69 small livestock valued at over 7 million tenge and 43 head of cattle worth around 20 million tenge.

All individuals involved have been arrested.

Earlier, cases of livestock theft were also reported in other parts of Kazakhstan, including the detention of emergency service employees in Akmola Region, highlighting the ongoing issue of rural animal theft.

Under Kazakh law, cattle theft carries a penalty of up to 12 years in prison with possible confiscation of property.