VIDEO: The State Revenue Committee Prevents Several Cases of Unregistered Pharmaceuticals Worth 150,000-800,000 Dram

The staff of the Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department of the State Revenue Committee (SRC), within the framework of combating tax violations and economic crimes, have uncovered cases of unregistered pharmaceutical sales in Armenia, utilizing operational data received.

Specifically, during May and June of this year, the SRC's Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department undertook operational-intelligence measures, resulting in the detection and prevention of retail sales of unregistered drugs through various pharmacies in Armenia.

Reports had been received indicating that several pharmacies operating in the republic were selling medications used for immunotherapy, which were unregistered in the Armenian drug registry, unlabeled, not marked with Armenian characters, and sold without packaging. The market price of these drugs ranges from 150,000 to 800,000 drams.

To verify the information and identify the offenders, operational-intelligence measures were implemented. During the actions taken against several economic entities, various drug-like products were purchased in cash. In order to determine the nature of these products, their registration status in the Armenian drug registry, and whether they contain psychotropic substances, inquiries were conducted with the Ministry of Health and the Health and Labor Inspectorate.

The responses received confirmed that the drug-like products obtained by the SRC's staff are indeed medications and are not registered in the Armenian drug registry. Relevant reports were compiled, and preliminary assessments of the damages caused to the state were sent to the investigation department of the SRC for further proceedings.

Work is underway to clarify the actual suppliers of these drugs and the circumstances under which they reached the territory of the republic through non-legal channels. It should be noted that the operational-intelligence measures have also revealed violations of Articles 408 and 416 of the Armenian Tax Code concerning failure to provide cash register receipts, lack of cash register machines, and carrying out activities subject to licensing without the required licenses.

Furthermore, the relevant departments of the SRC are conducting monitoring and oversight of the legality of drug sales in the republic and trade transactions carried out by Armenian entities. The Committee urges taxpayers to refrain from engaging in similar activities to avoid further administrative and criminal liability.