Abstract
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for unlawful purposes - smuggling, espionage, and the preparation of terrorist acts is becoming an increasingly acute problem for Kazakhstan's law enforcement system, and this article is devoted precisely to that issue: how law and law enforcement practice are coping with this new type of threat. The author examines what current legislation has to say on the matter from civil aviation regulations to the provisions of the Criminal Code establishing liability for the unlawful use of drones and demonstrates where these norms function effectively and where they fall short. Particular attention is given to the practical dimension of the problem: how internal affairs bodies actually detect, suppress, and investigate crimes of this kind, and what difficulties they encounter in recording violations and gathering evidence. One of the study's key findings is that the country still lacks a clear mechanism for identifying UAV operators, and that inter-agency coordination frequently remains inconsistent. On this basis, the author proposes concrete measures to remedy the situation: establishing effective inter-agency coordination, introducing technical countermeasures against the unlawful flight of drones, and training law enforcement personnel to address this new category of threats.