In the result of investigative actions conducted and joint measures taken together with the employees of the relevant subdivision of the RA National Security Service taken within the framework of the criminal proceeding investigated in Vedi Investigative Division of Ararat Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee another case of smuggling and illegal turnover of narcotic drugs in particularly large amount for the purpose of sale was disclosed.

In the result of realizing the operative information received on September 22 in Syunik Regional Department of the RA National Security Service, data were obtained on the allegation that the resident of town of Sisian, Syunik region procured narcotic drugs in particularly large amount from IRI citizen which he placed in various hiding places in Ararat region.

Particularly, the IRI citizen contacted the mentioned resident of Sisian through the mobile application, engaged in transportation of construction materials from Iran to Armenia with a truck owned by another person for years, offering the latter to transport narcotic drugs to Armenia for money. The mentioned person, being aware that there are narcotic drugs in the packages to be transported, agreed to the offer. Then the IRI citizen told him about the place of narcotic drugs at the territory next to town of Meghri at the same time instructing that they should be placed in the hiding places pointed out by him which should be photographed and sent to him.

The resident of Sisian town took the narcotic drugs procured illegally, from the mentioned area, transported them to Ararat region in a car and placed them in various hiding places of the section from Zangakatun settlement to Yeraskh of Meghri-Yerevan interstate highway. After he had placed the narcotic drugs, he sent the coordinates and photos of their locations to IRI citizen through various mobile applications, who, in his turn, sent them to other RA citizens who should procure the narcotic drugs from the hiding places.

On the same day the mentioned resident of Sisian town was arrested by the RA NSS employees on the base of reasonable suspicion of having committed a crime.

With regard to the case a criminal proceeding was initiated in Vedi Investigative Division of Ararat Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee according to the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 393, the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 399 and the Part 1 of the Article 396 of RA Criminal Code.

In the result of coordinated actions of investigators and NSS employees, 7 persons, who had attempted to procure the mentioned narcotic drugs from the hiding places, were arrested on suspicion of illegal turnover of narcotic drugs in particularly large amount for the purpose of sale.

Personal searches, searches in apartments, transport means, as well as digital searches were conducted. As a result of them, as well as investigative actions conducted by the investigative group, 9 packages of different sizes filled with about 10 kg masses, in total, similar to different types of narcotic drugs, were found in the hiding places.

According to the preliminary expert conclusion the found mass was narcotic drugs of “Methamphetamine” and “Marijuana” type.

On the base of the obtained sufficient facts charge was pressed against the resident of Sisian, who had given self-incriminating testimony, according to the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 393 of RA Criminal Code, charge was pressed against the other 7 persons according to the Point 2 of the Part 3 of the Article 46-44-393 of RA Criminal Code.

Motions to select detention against all 8 persons as a pretrial measure were submitted to court by the investigative body. By the court’s decision, detention was selected as a pretrial measure against 5 persons, home detention – against 2 persons, absence ban – against one person.

Measures are taken to find everybody possibly involved in the chain of illegal turnover of narcotic drugs, the sources of procurement of narcotic drugs and circumstances of smuggling.