85 Million Dram Customs Duty Not Paid to State Budget Due to Uncustomed Vehicles

According to data received by the Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department of the State Revenue Committee (SRC), 11 vehicles were imported from Japan to Armenia in November-December 2020 under the names of five individuals who are citizens of Armenia. These vehicles were not customs cleared within the prescribed time frames and did not receive state registration. This information was reported by the SRC.

During extensive and multifaceted operational and investigative measures undertaken by employees of the Sector No. 4 of the Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department, the imported vehicles were not located with the specified individuals. However, factual data has been obtained that citizen H.H. organized the importation of the aforementioned 11 vehicles into the territory of Armenia under his name and the names of four other individuals. These vehicles were dismantled and sold in parts without customs clearance and receiving state registration.

As a result of the failure to customs clear the vehicles in accordance with the established procedure, particularly large customs duties amounting to 85,388,119 AMD were not paid to the state budget. An examination was carried out at the location of one of the operating entities in the administrative territory of the village of Dzoraghbyur in Kotayk Province, where a Nissan Teana vehicle imported in November 2020 under the name of H.H. was found in a dismantled state. It is noteworthy that the identification numbers of the mentioned vehicle were damaged, except for one, which allowed for the vehicle's identification.

The SRC employees confiscated the aforementioned vehicle, which is considered an object of the crime. A criminal case has been initiated by the SRC's Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department under the relevant article of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. Operational-investigative and investigative actions are continuing to identify all participants involved in the criminal chain and to recover the remaining vehicles.

Notice: A suspect or accused of the alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, by a court ruling that has entered into legal force.