As a result of large-scale procedural and evidentiary actions conducted in the course of the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceeding investigated in the Third Department of General Department for Investigation of Economic Crimes and Smuggling of the RA investigative Committee, factual data were obtained on the allegation that the foreign citizens residing in the RA assisted in the illegal transportation into Armenia of narcotic drugs in particularly large amount, namely 25.5 kg of “Opium” and 3 kg of “Marijuana.”

Particularly, after acquiring the aforementioned narcotic drugs, one of the foreign citizens attempted to smuggle from Armenia to Germany two packages, and to the United Kingdom one package, containing electrical relays filled with “Opium” type of narcotics, with a total weight of 13.8 kg. However, the individual was detained by the officers of the RA State Revenue Committee.

The arrested individual, M.K., accompanied by the officers of the RA State Revenue Committee, proceeded to his place of residence, where he presented packages containing 8,677 grams of “Opium” and 2,680 grams of “Marijuana”, as well as one safe containing alleged narcotic substances. These items were confiscated within the framework of the proceeding. At the same time, the other members of the criminal group, foreign citizens R.Sh. and M.A. were presented to the investigative body. 

During the search conducted at the residence of the foreign citizens, as well as through inspection of the safe, drugs in particularly large amount were found and taken. 

Thus, based on the preliminary weighing, a total of 25.5 kg of “Opium” and 3 kg of “Marijuana” was confiscated, with an estimated market value of approximately 1 billion 193 million 445 thousand AMD.

By the prosecutor’s decision, public criminal prosecution was initiated against R.Sh. and M.K. according to the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 393 and the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 44-399 of RA Criminal Code, against M.A. - according to the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 393, the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 46-399, and the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 44-399 of RA Criminal Code. 

Detention was applied as a pretrial measure against them. 

Preliminary investigation of the criminal proceeding is ongoing. Large-scale evidentiary and procedural actions are conducted to identify other individuals who procure the narcotic drugs in particularly large amount in the RA.