Tag Archive for: Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Cracks Down on Illegal Vape Trade & Youth Use

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Kazakhstan is ramping up its efforts to combat the illegal trade and use of electronic cigarettes (vapes) as offenses related to these products continue to rise, particularly among young people. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, over 268 criminal offenses involving vapes have been registered since the beginning of 2025, with a significant portion concerning illicit trade and sales to minors under 18.

The country has established strict penalties for vape-related violations. The sale and distribution of vapes can lead to fines of up to 200 Monthly Calculation Index (MCI) units (approximately 738,400 tenge), community service, or arrest for up to 50 days. More severe penalties apply to the import and production of vapes, with fines reaching up to 2,000 MCI (around 7.3 million tenge), community service, or imprisonment for up to two years. If these crimes are committed by organized groups, involve exceptionally large profits, or are repeat offenses, fines can escalate to 5,000 MCI (18.4 million tenge), with potential imprisonment of up to five years.

The Financial Monitoring Agency (AFM) reported that since the start of the year, 14 individuals have been convicted for the underground sale and production of smoking devices. Law enforcement agencies are actively working to strengthen control over this sector. Recent enforcement actions highlight the scale of the issue:

  • In Astana, a 20-year-old was caught illegally selling over 40 vapes through a hookah shop, taking orders via a Telegram channel and using couriers for delivery.
  • Also in Astana, a 29-year-old man was found to have been illegally selling vapes in a tobacco shop for several years, with 77 vapes seized. He reportedly ordered prohibited substances in bulk via Telegram, selling individual vapes for 9,000 to 17,000 tenge.
  • During a special operation (“OPM Darmek”), officers identified a 35-year-old citizen suspected of illegal vape distribution and shut down an online store. Over 160 vapes were found stored in a utility room, with the suspect admitting to continuing sales via social media and couriers even after the official ban, at prices ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 tenge per vape.

Alongside these criminal enforcement efforts, authorities are also tackling violations of public order rules related to vaping in public places like schools and parks, particularly in large cities such as Astana and Almaty, which have high concentrations of young people. To address the rising use among youth, Kazakhstan is organizing preventive information campaigns in educational institutions aimed at raising awareness about the negative health consequences of vaping.

Kazakhstan Considers Stricter Penalties for Vape Storage and Delivery

Kazakhstan’s Majilis (lower house of parliament) is set to review amendments to its criminal legislation that would introduce stricter penalties for offenses related to electronic cigarettes (vapes), including for their storage and delivery. This move comes after an official ban on the import, sale, and production of vapes was implemented in the country last year.

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Kazakhstan Approves New Tax Code: VAT Set at 16%, Excise Hikes for Tobacco & HTPs

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Majilis Passes Reforms Aimed at Simplification and Differentiated Rates

Deputies in Kazakhstan’s Majilis (lower house of parliament) have approved a new Tax Code in its second reading, introducing significant changes aimed at simplifying the system and adjusting tax rates across various sectors. The reforms include setting the standard Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and outlining phased increases for excise duties on alcohol, tobacco, and heated tobacco products (HTPs).

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Kazakhstan Cigarette Prices Climb Steadily, Up 16.5% Year-on-Year

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Domestic Production Rises as Costs Increase Across Regions

Smokers in Kazakhstan are facing increasingly expensive cigarettes, with prices rising consistently month after month. According to analysis by Energyprom, the average cost of cigarettes surged by 16.5% year-on-year by the end of March 2025, with a 1% increase recorded in March alone.

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Kazakhstan’s Vape Ban Fuels Thriving Black Market Within a Year

A year has passed since Kazakhstan enacted a sweeping ban on the sale, manufacture, and distribution of electronic cigarettes and vaping devices on April 19, 2024. The legislation, which carries penalties ranging from fines and arrests to imprisonment and property confiscation for large-scale trafficking, aimed to curb the growing popularity of vaping, particularly among minors. However, as a “Kursiv” correspondent discovered, the ban has given rise to a thriving black market that operates under principles akin to drug trafficking, making it relatively easy to purchase these prohibited products.

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Kazakhstan Enforces E-Cigarette Ban, Man Convicted for Illegal Sales

The press service of the Astana prosecutor’s office has reported that a local resident has been sentenced to a restriction of freedom for selling vaping liquids worth 64 million tenge ($120,000 USD). The man had organized a workshop to produce nicotine-containing liquids, which he then sold in several stores.

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Kazakhstan Initiate Crackdown on Illegal Vape Trade

Local police officers in Aktau, Kazakhstan have begun carrying out raids against illegal vape trade in the city. As part of their efforts to enforce the recently implemented ban on electronic cigarettes, the authorities inspected various trading locations and engaged in educational outreach with the general population.

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Kazakhstan Introduces Strict Vape Ban: Understanding the New Law and Its Consequences

Kazakhstan has implemented a new law banning the sale, distribution, and import of vapes, commonly referred to as “disposables,” which are popular among the country’s citizens. While using vapes will not result in penalties, any involvement in their sale, distribution, or importation now carries serious criminal consequences.

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Kazakhstan Considers Total Ban on Vaping

Kazakhstan is considering legislation to completely prohibit the sale, import, export, and production of vapes, e-cigarettes, and associated vaping liquids and flavorings (announced on Saturday, July 29, on the website of the Respublica party.). This decisive proposed ban follows efforts by legislators and health advocates seeking to combat exponentially rising vaping rates among Kazakh youth. However, the vaping industry opposes such sweeping restrictions.

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Electronic Cigarettes Worth 6 Billion Tenge Seized in Kazakhstan

Customs officials in Zhetysu, Kazakhstan, seized 155.8 tons of electronic cigarettes worth 6.1 billion tenge at the Alakol customs post on the border with China, according to Turantimes.kz, citing the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

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