The musician was stopped at the Kordai border checkpoint, the Zhambyl Region police department said. A search of the vehicle turned up a narcotic substance, which officers seized. A criminal case has been opened on suspicion of attempted drug smuggling.
Citing Baza and checkpoint staff, Meduza reported that 10 grams of marijuana were found in Navai's car. The rapper's manager and a driver were traveling with him.
The suspect has been placed in a temporary detention facility. A pretrial investigation is under way.
Navai had been scheduled to perform in Astana on October 14. The organizers announced they were postponing the concert to an unspecified date for technical reasons.
Navai Bakirov is known as a member of the duo HammAli & Navai, which performed what is known as hookah rap. The duo was active from 2016 to 2025, and after it broke up Bakirov began a solo career.