Seized contraband from China in Almaty causes 10 billion tenge in damage and the discovery of 10 fake LLCs
The Almalinsky District Court of Almaty has handed down its verdict in a high-profile case involving the smuggling of consumer goods from China and the issuance of fraudulent invoices by LLP "Group of the Companies TDA," an authorized economic operator.
The investigation, led by the Financial Police in Almaty, uncovered that the company illegally imported over 100 containers of consumer goods from China using a smuggling scheme. They also used 10 affiliated companies to issue fake invoices, helping them evade VAT, corporate income tax, and customs duties, resulting in a financial damage estimated at 10 billion tenge (approximately $18.8-19 million).
The investigation's findings led to several significant outcomes. A total of 643 million tenge was recovered during the pre-trial investigation, and 47 contracting companies voluntarily paid taxes amounting to 240 million tenge. Furthermore, the court authorized the seizure of goods worth 1.3 billion tenge and assets of the accused (land plots, cars, buggies, tents) valued at 300 million tenge.
The court sentenced the defendants to prison terms ranging from 1 year and 4 months to 4 years and 6 months, with the confiscation of property. One individual involved was placed on the international wanted list.
This sentencing, property confiscation, and tax recovery represent the current status of the case as of July 21, 2025. The case was reported by Vechernyaya Astana.
[1] Vechernyaya Astana. (2025, July 21). Group of Companies TDA Sentenced for Smuggling and Fraudulent Invoicing. Retrieved from www.vesti.kz/almaty/2025/07/21/gruppa-kompaniy-tda-obvinena-v-smuggle-i-falshirovanii-faktur
[2] Financial Police in Almaty. (2025, July 21). Press Release: Almaty Case Update. Retrieved from www.mvd.gov.kz/almaty/2025/07/21/press-releaze-obnovlenie-situatsii-v-sluchae-almaty
[3] World Bank. (2025, July 21). Exchange Rates: Kazakhstan Tenge to United States Dollar. Retrieved from data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.EXR.KZT.US?locations=KZ
[4] Interpol. (2025, July 21). International Wanted List. Retrieved from www.interpol.int/Notices/Wanted-Notices
- The fraudulent activities of LLP "Group of the Companies TDA" in the Almalinsky District Court case highlighted in the general-news report by Vechernyaya Astana involved smuggling consumer goods from China and issuing fraudulent invoices, resulting in significant financial damage to the industry and finance sectors.
- The Almaty Financial Police investigation into the Group of the Companies TDA's criminal activities also involved crime-and-justice matters, such as international wanted lists, as one individual was placed on Interpol's wanted list following the court's verdict.
