Customs Committee Prevents Unprecedented Attempt to Transport Opium

The State Revenue Committee's customs anti-smuggling department, along with the Zvartnots operational-investigative division, inspected two shipments weighing a total of 25 kg containing clothing that was being exported from Armenia to Canada in the name of a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran on January 10, 2019, at the "Zvartnots" airport cargo complex. During the inspection, customs officials tore open the suspicious clothing, revealing that the fabrics inside were soaked with opium-type narcotics. This information has been provided by the information and public relations department of the Armenian State Revenue Committee.

As a result of extensive operational-investigative measures, on the following day, January 11, employees from the Customs Anti-Smuggling Department's Syunik regional division and the operational-investigative division detained R.A., an Iranian citizen sending the package to Canada, at the "Agarak" border checkpoint. Continuing the operational-investigative measures, another Iranian citizen, S.E., associated with the incident, was discovered and detained near Zvartnots Airport.

A criminal case has been initiated in the investigative department of the State Revenue Committee under part 1 of Article 267.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, and an investigation is currently underway. Both Iranian citizens are in custody.

Note: A suspect charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law by a legally enforceable court verdict.