Illegal Drug Trafficking Cases Disclosed; Criminal Case Initiated

In the framework of combating drug trafficking and the circulation of prohibited items, it was revealed that on December 21, 2020, a package containing 0.01 grams of methadone was discovered in a coffee box of convict E. T. at the "Goris" penitentiary institution of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia. This has served as the basis for initiating a criminal case under the third point of the second part of Article 266 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. This was reported by the public relations department of the penitentiary service of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia.

“Another incident of drug discovery was revealed on January 19. At around 11:30 AM, the staff of the "Hospital for Convicts" penitentiary institution of the Ministry of Justice of Armenia, acting on operational information, conducted an unexpected search in one of the patient rooms of the therapeutic department and also subjected the detained person A. M. to a personal search. As a result of the search, a mass resembling opium, weighing 4 grams, was discovered concealed within A. M.'s waistband. A. M. claimed that he had found the packet in the yard of the therapeutic department and had taken it with him to examine its contents.

Materials are being prepared regarding the incident, and a forensic chemical examination has been appointed. It is noted that a suspect or an accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty in the manner prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, by a court decision that has entered into legal force,” the statement reads.