Video: Hidden Alcohol Production Facility Discovered in Basement, 15 Million Drams in Damage Caused to State

The Investigative and Operational Search Department of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia continues its fight against tax violations and economic crimes by conducting oversight across all sectors of activity.

The National Security Service provided operational information to the State Revenue Committee indicating that in Yerevan, a production of counterfeit vodka and brandy was being organized with fake excise stamps, and these alcoholic beverages were being sold in various regions of the Republic of Armenia.

To act on the received information, the employees of the Investigative and Operational Search Department developed and implemented a comprehensive, large-scale operational investigative measure. As a result, the exact location of the suspected counterfeit alcohol production facility was determined, after which the area was placed under operational control by the department's staff.

During the operations, department employees assessed the situation and entered the premises unexpectedly by using fictitious and plausible information, during which a hidden alcohol production facility was discovered in the basement of the building, where six employees were working at that time.

It was determined that the individual entrepreneur organizing the activity had conducted a notification-required activity without notification, engaging in the production of alcoholic beverages, and had acquired, stored, and used counterfeit excise stamps from the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Artsakh, and the Russian Federation for this purpose.

On the same day, the main department for the investigation of economic crimes and smuggling at the Investigative Committee of Armenia initiated criminal proceedings under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code for conducting a notification-required activity without notification and for acquiring or using counterfeit excise stamps for the purpose of sale.

Measures are being undertaken to clarify the exact amount of damage caused to the state. Preliminary data indicates that the state has suffered particularly large damages amounting to 15 million Armenian drams. At the same time, relevant work is currently being conducted to apply administrative responsibility against the individual entrepreneur. The potential fine could amount to 165 million Armenian drams.

The Investigative and Operational Search Department of the State Revenue Committee will remain consistent in its efforts to clarify the legality of such detrimental phenomena, including the application of excise stamps, reminding that violators will be held accountable to the full extent of the law.