VIDEO: Armenian Police Neutralize Azerbaijani National from Iran; He is Arrested

In early July, operational information was received at the Main Division for Combating Drug Trafficking of the Criminal Police and the investigative divisions of the Kentron and Norq Marash administrative districts that an individual from the Islamic Republic of Iran would illegally cross the Armenian state border with a particularly large quantity of narcotics, according to the Armenian police.

"Extensive operational and investigative measures were undertaken. Collaborating with officers from the Central Division of the police and utilizing the operational data received, the officers of the Main Division for Combating Drug Trafficking and the Special Purpose Division proceeded to the Syunik region, where they were joined by officers from the Kapan division of the police.

"We went to the section of the Syunik region where, according to information, this individual was supposed to pass. On the evening of July 10, we lay in wait in the specified area. After some time, we noticed a man in military uniform with a backpack heading towards the village of Srashen in the Syunik region," said Gevorg Asryan, head of the Division of the Special Purpose Division of the Main Division for Combating Drug Trafficking.

The police continued to follow the suspect's movement. He was armed. Various options for neutralizing the suspect were discussed, and since he was moving towards an Armenian village, it was decided to apprehend him when he came out of the ravine onto the road.

"One of the operational groups lay in wait in the specified area. As soon as he emerged from the forest, the officers of the Special Purpose Division of the Main Division for Combating Drug Trafficking neutralized and disarmed the man. He was apprehended on suspicion of illegally crossing the state border and transporting narcotics, during which he exhibited resistance to the police. His identity was confirmed as a 24-year-old Azerbaijani national from the Islamic Republic of Iran. From his backpack, 4 kg 865 grams of heroin was discovered. The seized substance and firearm were sent for examination.

"We also searched the area he passed through. In the forest, we discovered his other backpack, which contained bottled water, food supplies, military attire, a mask, a hat, and a mobile phone." A criminal case has been launched. The 24-year-old man, identified as an Azerbaijani national from the Islamic Republic of Iran, is in custody. The investigation is ongoing," the police stated in their announcement.