Weapons inspections conducted by mobile teams in Almaty
Hitting the Streets of Almaty: Police cracking down on illegal weapons ownership
Almaty's residents are finding themselves under the scrutiny of the local police as 107 mobile groups are checking for civilian-owned firearms, according to Total.kz. This operation is part of the nationwide "Arms-2021" event, aimed at securing weapons, preventing theft, and enforcing safety regulations.
Over 500 officers from district departments are working tirelessly in this operation, forming joint groups to discern illegally stored weapons. Since May 17, they have carried out 307 raids in Almaty, resulting in the confiscation of three units of illegally kept weapons: a gas traumatic pistol, a traumatic pistol, and a sawed-off shotgun, as well as a RGD-5 grenade and 12 cartridges for smooth-bore and traumatic weapons.
The head of the UAP of the DPA of Almaty, Zhandos Murataliev, reported these findings. He also mentioned that a check of the storage conditions for civilian and service weapons was conducted for 6,612 individual owners and 97 legal entities. As a consequence, 269 rule violations regarding the safety and management of civilian weapons were identified, resulting in administrative penalties for the offenders, with 228 units of registered weapons being removed from circulation due to these infractions.
Murataliev further acknowledged a nationwide campaign to purchase illegal firearms, ammunition, and explosives from the public. Incentives are offered to citizens who voluntarily surrender such contraband, absolving them from criminal and administrative responsibilities.
While specifics about "Arms-2021" operations, seized weapons, and administrative penalties related to Almaty are scarce in recent data, it's essential to note that regional tensions and weapons-related incidents have been on the rise. Some highlights include the declaration of a state of emergency in several regions, intense anti-protest operations, and restoration of Soviet-era bomb shelters in Almaty. Furthermore, illegal weapons have surfaced in various regional conflicts, with instances of American-origin firearms being recovered in train hijackings and sanctioned arms transfers flowing through Kazakhstan.
For more accurate and up-to-date details concerning "Arms-2021" and related matters in Almaty, it's advisable to consult Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs or relevant audit reports.
- In Almaty, the police are investigating 269 cases of illegal storing of firearms as part of the Arms-2021 event, which involves checking civilian-owned firearms.
- During the operation, three units of illegally kept weapons were confiscated, including a gas traumatic pistol, a traumatic pistol, and a sawed-off shotgun.
- The head of the UAP of the DPA of Almaty, Zhandos Murataliev, reported that 228 units of registered weapons were removed from circulation due to safety and management rule violations.
- The police in Almaty are offering incentives to citizens who voluntarily surrender illegal firearms, ammunition, and explosives to help combat the rise in regional tensions and weapons-related incidents.
