VIDEO: Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Criminal Group Uncovered

The investigation by the Special Investigation Service of Armenia has uncovered a criminal group involved in the illegal trafficking of drugs and money laundering through the Telegram social media platform. This was the result of extensive investigative and procedural actions combined with operational measures conducted by the Police.

Specifically, the investigation revealed that A. Manukyan, K. Manukyan, and H. Galstyan, son of the president of the ‘Public Voice’ party Artak Galstyan, along with several unidentified individuals, had created and managed online stores on the Telegram app since 2019. They operated under the names ‘N...’, ‘Na...’, and approximately seven other similarly named platforms, where they posted various photographs of drugs along with pricing based on weight, and provided information for the transfer of funds for drugs obtained via correspondence, frequently changing their Dashcoin and Bitcoin wallet details.

As a result, from 2019 to 2023, these individuals illegally sold substantial amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana through these online platforms while also unlawfully circulating large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, LSD, marijuana, and MDMA. The financial proceeds from drug trafficking totaled an astonishing 1,152,734,220 Armenian drams.

The accomplices ensured that the drugs were separated by weight, packaged, and concealed in hideouts located in various cities throughout Armenia. After documenting the locations, they marked the geographical coordinates using a software application and sent it to individuals who expressed interest in obtaining drugs via the online stores. Following negotiations with these parties, payment for the drugs was required to be transferred to frequently changing cryptocurrency wallets.

Upon receipt of the funds, they provided the location information for the drugs. The three defendants offered daily-changing cryptocurrency wallet information to disguise the criminal origins, movements, and distribution of the substantial financial proceeds from drug sales, essentially laundering the money. They also registered electronic wallets under their names and those of numerous interconnected individuals within the Idram payment system. After receiving funds transferred to over a thousand cryptocurrency wallets, they distributed these to various individuals and organizations operating within Armenia that engaged in cryptocurrency exchange via the Telegram app. The converted Armenian drams were then ordered to be transferred to their own and associates' electronic wallets opened under the names of V. Galstyan, B. Sakanian, and A. Markosyan, and in some cases to bank cards, which were then cashed and controlled by group members.

Based on the gathered evidence, a request was submitted by the examining authority to the supervising prosecutor to initiate public criminal proceedings against A. and K. Manukyan, P. Haroutunyan, and H. Galstyan under Article 393 (Part 3, Clause 2) and Article 296 (Part 3, Clause 3) of the Armenian Criminal Code. Public criminal proceedings were initiated against V. Galstyan, B. Sakanian, and A. Markosyan under Article 46-393 (Part 3, Clause 2) and Article 46-296 (Part 3, Clause 3) of the same code, which were approved. Five individuals, including V. Galstyan, have been charged and detained. H. Galstyan is also under detention as a preventive measure and has been placed on a wanted list, later found and arrested in Georgia. Legal processes are underway to transfer him to the competent authorities in Armenia.

Public criminal proceedings have been initiated against the other two individuals, and a decision has been made to apprehend them for presentation to the court.