Pontotoc County Traffic Stop Yields 600 Pounds of Illegal Narcotics

PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. – A routine traffic stop of a van in Pontotoc County last Sunday evening led to the seizure of an estimated 600 pounds of illegal narcotics, with an approximate street value of $1 million.

According to the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Department, deputies stopped a van on I-22 on Sunday, December 21, 2024, for a traffic violation when the drugs were discovered.

The stop resulted in the arrest of Almas Bekzhanov, 39, of Kazakhstan. Sheriff Leo Mask stated that Bekzhanov, who is in the country illegally, has been charged with trafficking of a controlled substance.

The sheriff’s department has alerted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding Bekzhanov’s immigration status.

A sample of the seized drugs have been sent to the state crime lab.