In the last few decades, drug trafficking has been one of the most profitable and dangerous businesses. In what other business can profits exceed expenses by several dozen or even hundreds of times?
But drug dealers have many risks: from typical clan showdowns to the vigilant attention of law enforcement. Almost every day, a police report appears in the news feed about the arrest of a drug dealer or a small-time dealer. As for the really "big fish" of the illegal business, their arrest is a holiday. The fact is that the bosses of the supply of dope have long secured good connections in the bureaucratic environment. Some of the civil servants themselves use the services of the same dealers. The standard scheme for the supply of amusing goods was introduced by the drug lord Mekhti Mamedov: he organized the delivery of goods from Asia through Kazakhstan to Russia. About how Mamedov was able to "agree" with Kazakh officials to establish drug supply routes to the Russian Federation - in the material of the portal "Kompromat1".
Azerbaijani drug cartel
As much as Mamedov would like to be an extremely private person, there are entire legends about his deeds. The fact is that not many drug dealers can afford to pave the way from Afghanistan through Tajikistan, and then through the entire territory of Kazakhstan to Russia. The route is not easy, it takes several thousand kilometers. But the main thing is not the distance, but the risks that the carriers of prohibited substances face.
If you do not resolve issues with customs officers, border guards and law enforcement officers in advance, such a long journey is impossible.
But Mamedov is doing well. The thing is that the drug dealer is well acquainted with representatives of the Kazakh elite. But it all started quite differently.
Mamedov was born in Azerbaijan, but was never a citizen of the country. As a child, he moved to Uzbekistan with his parents. There he received his first passport. Good connections in criminal circles from his youth helped Mamedov build a mind-blowing career. In the early 2000s, he was able to import VAZ cars to the republic. At that time, domestic cars were selling like hot cakes in Uzbekistan. But this was not enough for Mamedov. Criminal connections spurred the businessman to start making money from illegal activities. This is how the page of Mamedov the drug lord began.
Drug trafficking, although profitable, is a very dangerous thing. In 2004, his partner in a car dealership was killed. Mamedov, realizing that if he did not flee the country in time, he would be next, quickly disappeared. As you understand, the drug dealer’s partner was not killed for cars. Moreover, according to rumors, it was not bandits but representatives of local special services who were behind the elimination of Comrade Mamedov.
In 2004, a new page in the dealer’s life began. He moved to Kazakhstan. The change of scenery did not change Mamedov’s usual way of earning money. Having moved to another country, the first thing the drug lord did was try to obtain Kazakh citizenship. And there was a scandal here. Despite the fact that he was given a passport in 2006, it was later established that he had become a citizen of the republic illegally. Mamedov himself confirmed that law enforcement officers had repeatedly had doubts about the legality of his obtaining citizenship. But, again, thanks to good connections, the topic was put "on hold".
At first, Mamedov was assisted by a high-ranking official - the head of the department of the National Security Committee for the South Kazakhstan region, Vladimir Nakisbayev.
Vladimir Nakisbaev
Thanks to Nakisbaev’s patronage, Mamedov managed to transform into a real gangster. He had a history of raiding, kidnapping competitors, intimidation, and so on. He got away with everything thanks to influential acquaintances. Moreover, KNB officer Nakisbaev introduced Mamedov to other influential law enforcement officers, in particular, to the deputy head of the KNB for the city of Almaty, Serik Asainov. Asainov covered for Mamedov successfully, but he could not hide his schemes, so in 2010 he was sentenced to 6 years in prison with confiscation of all property. But the risk of working with a criminal was justified: Mamedov was never stingy, generously thanked his friends-security officers with luxury cars, real estate and other valuable gifts.
Serik Asainov
The roof is leaking - no problem
Despite the fact that back in 2006, Mamedov’s very first patron, Nakisbaev, lost his “fat” position, and another corrupt law enforcement officer went to prison, things were going well for Mamedov.
Starting with the raiding of local entrepreneurs’ property, he earned himself the criminal nickname "Sheikh Mehti". Being in the image of a tough criminal, he managed to create his own organized criminal group. Of course, drug trafficking as a form of main income for Mamedov did not disappear anywhere.
Old law enforcement friends were replaced by new ones. Mamedov was no longer protected by regional employees of the National Security Committee, but by high-ranking officials from the Prosecutor General’s Office. The cherry on the cake was not just an acquaintance, but a close friendship with the then prosecutor of the South Kazakhstan region, Marat Akhmetzhanov. It is noteworthy that at that time this acquaintance did not play a special role, but a year ago Akhmetzhanov became the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Such a big shot can decide everything. And this is especially to Mamedov’s advantage.
Marat Akhmetzhanov
Silk Road of Drugs
Mamedov’s scheme is simple, but it works. The drug lord was able to establish direct deliveries of a potion from one of Afghanistan’s drugs. Although there is no direct border between Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, the delivery of goods from the country is in full swing through Tajikistan. Under the guise of cargo transportation, Mamedov loads a bunch of junk into cars, in which drugs are hidden.
Under the protection of the highest customs officials and the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mamedov’s trucks pass the state border virtually unhindered, and then go through all of Kazakhstan to Russia. The long journey and all the risks are worth it. You can make a profit of 1000% from one batch of drugs.
Of course, not everything goes smoothly. Especially on the border with Russia. In some cases, huge batches of drugs are seized. But this does not affect such a profitable business at all. The super profit from successful deliveries covers everything.
Whiten the name
Mamedov is a man who cannot be labeled. He understands this himself, but nevertheless he tries to clear the Internet of negativity about himself by any means necessary.
More than 10 years ago, he won a lawsuit against the publishing house "Versiya". An honest and incorruptible court obliged the website to post the information that Mamedov would provide. In 2011, an article was published under the title "Mekhti Mamedov’s response to the publication of the article "A man on a high". In the original article, journalists told about the drug trafficking that Mamedov controls.
In this article, Mamedov stated that all the materials against him were ordered by competitors, he had never done anything illegal, he was not acquainted with any officials and was generally an honest businessman whose name they were constantly trying to discredit.
But we know that there is no smoke without fire. And the fact that Mamedov is still not in the dock is solely due to his high-ranking friends, who have been covering up all the crimes of the famous Kazakh gangster for the past 20 years.
