VIDEO: 64-Year-Old Resident of Mkhchyan Village Arrested for Cultivating and Selling Drugs

A 64-year-old resident of Mkhchyan village in the Ararat region has been arrested for illegally possessing, using, and selling narcotic drugs, as well as for the illegal cultivation of cannabis. This information has been reported by the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

According to the report, he confessed to cultivating, drying, and preparing drugs in his greenhouse for several months. Following this incident, a criminal case has been initiated at the Ararat Regional Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia for the cultivation of narcotic plants and illegal drug trafficking, where necessary investigative and procedural actions are being carried out.

“In particular, during the examination of the crime scene, a total of 480 cannabis-like plants of various sizes were discovered, uprooted, and seized from the greenhouse at the specified address, along with 4 polymer bags filled with dried leaves of cannabis plants, weighing approximately 27.5 kilograms in total,” the report states.

During the search of the house, the 64-year-old man presented 27 polyethylene packages containing shredded cannabis-like plant material weighing about 750 grams in total, as well as 13 paper and polyethylene packages containing approximately 705 grams of crushed and dried cannabis-like plant material, 4 cigarette rolls, and 1 paper package containing approximately 7.5 grams of shredded cannabis-like material, along with a medicine box containing approximately 4.82 grams of hard black mass of cannabis-like plant material, as well as 38 paper packages with crushed and dried cannabis-like material weighing around 195 grams.

A forensic chemical examination has been appointed for the cannabis-like substances found during the search. According to the preliminary examination by the expert, they are identified as marijuana substances, with a stable dry weight of 73.11 grams and 38.7 grams respectively, while the 480 identified plants correspond to the description of cannabis-type plants based on a botanical study.

Based on the gathered evidence, public criminal proceedings have been initiated against the 64-year-old resident of Mkhchyan, and he has been charged under Article 404, part 2, point 2 (Cultivating or planting prohibited narcotic plants, psychotropic, highly effective or poisonous substances in particularly large quantities) and Article 393, part 3, point 2 (Illegal trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic substances, their preparations, or equivalent substances with the intent to sell or illegal sale in particularly large quantities) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The man has partially admitted guilt regarding the charges.

The investigation continues, and measures are being taken to clarify all circumstances of the incident and to uncover the cases of drug trafficking. It is noteworthy that this individual was previously sentenced to six years in prison in 2012 for cultivating and selling cannabis in the same area.