Kazakhstan’s organized crime unit officers have thwarted a high-risk black market deal involving the illegal sale of mercury valued at 100 million tenge in the Almaty region.

The officers disrupted the transaction, preventing the circulation of a highly dangerous chemical substance that could have been used for illegal purposes, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The special operation was carried out in coordination with the regional prosecutor’s office and the National Security Committee. During the sting operation, a 28-year-old suspect from the Turkestan region was detained while attempting to sell the substance. He has been placed in temporary detention as investigators continue to establish the full circumstances of the case.

Law enforcement officials reported that more than 3 kilograms of metallic mercury stored in a glass container were seized at the scene.

Police emphasized that mercury is an extremely toxic substance posing serious risks to human health and the environment. Exposure to its vapors can lead to severe poisoning, damage to the nervous system, and long-term contamination due to its ability to accumulate in the body and environment.

The swift intervention, officials say, helped avert potentially serious consequences.