Operation 'Hot-Hot Pizza': Gun Found in the Car of the Director of the Tsaghkadzor Cable Car

On August 14, operatives from the Kotayk Regional Department of the Police, serving Hrazdan and Charentsavan divisions, along with investigators from the Serious Crimes Investigation Division of the Armenian Investigative Committee, conducted the operation dubbed 'Hot-Hot Pizza' in Kotayk province. This was reported by Shamshyan.com.

Operational information was received indicating that a 38-year-old resident of Abovyan, Ashot Karapetyan, was keeping a weapon in his BMW X5 vehicle with license plate 81 SC 008. Police in Kotayk province spotted the suspect, A. Karapetyan, near the 'Tashir Pizza' restaurant on Republic Avenue in Abovyan, after he had dined there and crossed over to the opposite sidewalk, parked his vehicle, and entered a beauty salon.

A. Karapetyan, who introduced himself as the director of the Tsaghkadzor cable car, attempted to convince the police not to inspect his car. The operation lasted nearly 10 hours, as the investigator had to apply to the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court for permission to conduct a search. Shortly after midnight, the court granted the investigator's request, and A. Karapetyan indicated to officers the place in his vehicle where a Makarov-type pistol, loaded with eight 9mm cartridges, was found.

Karapetyan informed the investigators that the weapon belonged to his deceased brother. By the order of the investigator, the unregistered pistol was packaged, sealed, and sent to the forensic expert division of the RA police.