VIDEO: Organizing Illegal Departure of Armenian Citizens to the USA for $25,000, NSS Reveals

The National Security Service of Armenia has revealed that a group of individuals organized the illegal departure of several Armenian citizens to the United States through transit countries for a fee of up to $25,000 per person. The operation was conducted in collaboration with the management of various tourist agencies operating in Yerevan and other individuals.

According to the investigation, these individuals prepared false documents relating to employment, salary amounts, other income, and the deaths of close relatives of those departing, which were submitted to competent authorities in Armenia and abroad for obtaining appropriate clearance for entry and stay in the transit country.

During the preliminary investigation, searches conducted in the homes and vehicles of the criminal group's members, as well as in the offices of tourist agencies, revealed numerous falsified documents, blank forms, notebooks containing records of payments made by several dozen citizens for illegal entry into foreign countries, photographs of the passports of citizens who left Armenia as a result of illegal migration, as well as mobile phones containing voice messages regarding the organization of illegal migration.

As a result, four members of the criminal group were arrested on well-founded suspicion, and the supervising prosecutor has decided to initiate a public criminal prosecution against them for organizing illegal migration and for producing, using, and facilitating the use of falsified documents under the relevant articles of the Armenian Criminal Code.

The investigation continues, and necessary investigative activities and operational measures are being carried out to clarify all circumstances of the case and the full scope of individuals involved in the criminal scheme, as well as to apply legal measures against them.