Drones Breaching Correctional Facility Security Zone Will Be Destroyed, Says Penitentiary Service

The Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia has issued a statement informing that drones breaching the security zone boundaries of correctional facilities will be immediately destroyed.

"In parallel with consistent measures aimed at fundamentally improving security within the correctional institutions of the Republic of Armenia, including preventing the infiltration of prohibited items and substances, criminal elements are attempting to find new ways and means to transfer drugs and other prohibited items into the correctional facilities. Regular comprehensive measures are carried out by the Penitentiary Service to detect and prevent these infiltration methods, resulting in the discovery of a drug smuggling attempt via a remotely piloted drone on August 2 of this year at around 13:50," the statement reads.

"Specifically, over the past few days, reconnaissance flights of a remote-controlled drone have been observed over the correctional facility, serving as an additional indicator to strengthen the facility's security and conduct necessary inspections. On August 2, at approximately 13:50, personnel from the Artik penitentiary recorded yet another flight of a remote-controlled drone in the vicinity of the 4th observation post of the outer guard, which approached the main area between building No. 5 and the boiler room to conduct an infiltration.

As a result of immediate actions taken, a plastic transparent container resembling a bottle, which contained 43.44 grams of a greenish herbal substance similar to marijuana packaged in a cigarette box, and a plastic container from a "Kinder" chocolate product weighing 8.11 grams that contained a substance resembling opium, along with a paste-like mass of 18.99 grams reminiscent of hashish oil, was discovered in the area.

Materials are being prepared regarding the incident at the Artik penitentiary, and a forensic examination has been appointed. The Penitentiary Service warns that from now on, any drone breaching the security zone boundaries of correctional facilities will be subject to immediate destruction."

Note: The suspected individual in a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia with a legally binding court decision.