Video: Two Cases of Illegal Drug Trafficking from Spain and Iran to Armenia Uncovered by NSS

The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has revealed that a resident of Hrazdan, identified as K.T., arranged for his compatriot H.M. to travel by car to the Armenian-Iranian border to receive a large quantity of illegally imported drugs from a citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran for a certain amount of money. The plan was to transport the drugs to Hrazdan and deliver them to K.T.

The individual traveled to Agarak in the Syunik Province, establishing necessary agreements via phone conversations regarding the transfer of the drugs with his accomplice living on the Iranian side of the border. On June 22, 2021, around 7:00 AM, while receiving a package containing about 743 grams of marijuana and hashish at the state border area from the Iranian side, the accomplice was en route to deliver the drugs to K.T. in Hrazdan. However, the crime was thwarted as the NSS officers detained him in Yeghegnadzor, leading to the seizure of the large quantities of drugs found in the vehicle's trunk.

In another case, Armenian citizen A.A., located in Spain, illegally acquired approximately 57 grams of cocaine with the intention of selling it in Armenia and transferring it to others for profit. On June 22, 2021, he smuggled the drugs into Armenia disguised and brought them to Zvartnots International Airport via a Barcelona-Warsaw-Yerevan flight. During customs control, officers from the NSS's Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department, along with the customs enforcement unit, uncovered and seized the drugs from him.

Criminal cases have been initiated by the NSS's investigative department regarding these incidents, and all three individuals have been arrested, with custody measures subsequently applied. Necessary procedural actions are being undertaken to clarify all circumstances of the incidents, as well as to identify the full scope of individuals involved in the illegal drug trafficking scheme into Armenia.

Notice: The suspect or accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court's legally effective judgment in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.