Eight Members of a Large Drug Trafficking Group Arrested

In the framework of a criminal case initiated by the Investigative Committee of Armenia's Yerevan City Investigative Department, a large criminal group engaged in the sale and distribution of particularly large quantities of narcotics has been uncovered as a result of coordinated operational actions conducted by investigators and police officers.

Specifically, the preliminary investigation revealed that V.H., in agreement with a group of individuals between February and March 2023, illegally acquired, possessed, and sold drugs including "Methamphetamine," "Methadone," "Elizde," "Anthracene," "Crystal," "Heroin," "Ephedrine," and various other types of narcotics in an office space located on Sebastia Street in Yerevan.

During the investigation, it was established that members of the criminal group regularly purchased narcotics from V.H. with various sums of money, intending to distribute them to unspecified persons. Some members of the group facilitated the group's movements by vehicle, thereby assisting in the criminal activities.

As a result of the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, nine members of the group, including V.H., were arrested on grounds of direct suspicion of committing criminal acts. During personal searches and searches of residences, substances resembling "crystal" and "marijuana" were discovered.

In a simultaneous search of the aforementioned office space operated by V.H. on Sebastia Street, law enforcement officers found 500 ecstasy pills, six bottles of hashish oil, 40 packages of marijuana weighing a total of 739 grams, three packages of crystalline substance weighing 588 grams, and others, most of which were in zip-packages.

Additionally, from the gas stove in the kitchen, 187,700 euros and 46,500 US dollars were seized, along with numerous notebooks, registers, and various pieces of paper containing handwritten notes related to drug transactions, indicating V.H.'s involvement in the illegal sale of various types of particularly large quantities of narcotics and the resulting illicit enrichment.

All vehicles subject to search during the investigation were found in the yard of the specified office space on Sebastia Street, which are believed to have been used by V.H.

During the search, a revolver labeled "Detective Speo" loaded with six cartridges was also discovered, hidden wrapped in cloth inside a brandy box.

Requests for public criminal prosecution against the individuals have been submitted to the prosecutor's office, which have been approved.

On March 23, 2023, V.H. was charged under part 2 of point 3 of Article 393 and part 1 of Article 335 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, while four members of the group were charged under part 2 of point 3 of Article 393, one under part 3 of Article 46-393, and three under part 2 of point 3 of Article 46-393.

A motion was submitted to the court to impose pretrial detention on them, which was granted for eight members, while one request was denied, and a ban on absence was selected as a preventive measure. The investigation is ongoing.