“In the course of the operational-search activities in the cities of Nur-Sultan, Alma-Ata, Aktobe, Ust-Kamenogorsk and Kyzylorda, a number of leaders of criminals and members of organized criminal groups involved in organizing the riots on January 4–7 were detained and brought to justice,” - TASS quotes a message from the department.

As a result of the special operation, law enforcement officers seized several weapons and more than 130 ammunition.

All detainees are in custody, a pre-trial investigation is underway.

Earlier it was reported that 2,750 criminal cases were initiated in Kazakhstan on the fact of the January protests. 

According to Sanjar Adilov, head of the Kazakh Interior Ministry's investigative department, police had previously seized more than 740 weapons stolen during the January riots.