A court in Kazakhstan has ordered rapper Navai held in pretrial detention for two months in a drug smuggling case, Baza reported. The Korday District Court issued the order against Navai Bakirov on October 15.
Bakirov was detained at a checkpoint on October 14 after drugs were found in his car as he entered Kazakhstan from Kyrgyzstan. Baza reported that officers found 10 grams (about 0.35 ounces) of marijuana, while other sources put the amount at 2.5 grams (about 0.09 ounces) of drugs.
According to Baza, the rapper admitted during questioning that he had bought the drugs in Bishkek.
He was traveling to Kazakhstan to perform at a concert in Astana on October 14.
Kyrgyzstan’s State Border Service has launched an internal inquiry after Navai was detained with drugs following his border crossing, TASS reported. The inquiry aims “to establish all the circumstances surrounding his border screening.” The border service said that if it finds any violations, it will take “appropriate action in accordance with the law” against those responsible.
Navai Bakirov is best known as a member of HammAli & Navai, a hookah rap duo active from 2016 to 2025. After the duo split up, Bakirov launched a solo career.
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