Police in Kazakhstan's Shymkent city have uncovered a warehouse storing canisters of so-called “laughing gas,” following a raid on a local nightclub where the illegal substance was being sold.

During the immediate measures, officers identified a full storage facility containing 416 canisters, nearly half of which were filled with a banned compound. The substance involved was nitrous oxide, often marketed illicitly in nightlife venues under slang names, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The Kazakh Interior Ministry reminded that as of January 1, 2026, criminal liability has been introduced for the illegal circulation of potent substances, a category that now includes nitrous oxide. The case underscores stepped-up enforcement aimed at curbing the spread of prohibited substances in entertainment venues.