The National Security Committee (KNB) of Kazakhstan said the special forces detained several suspected Islamist oil thieves in Aktobe region on December 7.

KNB said its forces in cooperation with the National Anti-Corruption Agency launched a large-scale special operation to curb the activities of organized criminal groups suspected of oil theft and illegal oil trafficking.

During the December 7 raid at an Aktobe refinery, the authorities detained “several suspected oil thieves and confiscated some tanker trucks with oil,” the statement said.

In addition, the special forces arrested “several members of a criminal gang of Salafists” that allegedly provided a crime-sponsored cover to those engaged in oil theft, the statement said.

No further details were provided; investigation results will be announced later, according to KNB.

The Anti-Terrorist Centre of the Republic of Kazakhstan has extended the moderate “yellow” level of terrorist threat in the country until January 15, 2017 following deadly Aktobe gunshop attack on June 5 and Almaty police station attack on July 18. Both of the attacks were declared as terrorism.