VIDEO: Over $500,000 Worth of Cocaine Discovered in Shipment from the USA to Armenia

The Armenian Customs Committee, in collaboration with the National Security Service's Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department, carried out an inspection of a package sent from the USA to Armenia within the customs supervision zone of the "Apaven Terminal" LLC.

In addition to clothing and shoes, a package weighing 1,148 grams was found containing a white substance resembling cocaine, enclosed in a polyethylene bag. The substance was tested using a portable device that indicated the presence of "cocaine hydrochloride." The market value of the discovered drugs exceeded $500,000.

Following this incident, the Customs Committee's Anti-Smuggling Department and the National Security Service's Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department promptly engaged in operational and investigative measures, including a controlled delivery operation. The cocaine was substituted with similar-looking materials.

As part of the controlled delivery operation, a phone call was made to the number provided for the shipment to notify that the package was on its way. The behavior of the individual who answered raised suspicion, prompting investigators to determine who was using the phone number. It was discovered that the number was being operated by another individual identified as H.P.

The package was delivered to the designated location, which had been surveilled. During this time, an individual identified as H.P. approached the area, and another individual named K.B. came to receive the package. Immediately upon receiving the package, K.B. was arrested based on reasonable grounds of suspicion of drug smuggling, while the other individual attempted to flee.

However, following operational search efforts, H.P. was located the same day in a café on Komitas Avenue in Yerevan, where he, along with two other individuals, was arrested and taken to the Main Directorate of the Police. Operational information indicated that all detained individuals might have been involved in illegal drug trafficking.

The detainees were transferred to the Economic Crimes and Smuggling Investigations Directorate of the Investigative Committee, where, under a decision from the investigator, they were formally arrested. A request was submitted to the court for permission to conduct searches at the residences of the detainees, and based on the court's decision, searches were carried out, resulting in the discovery of substances resembling drugs. Based on the prosecutor's motion, two of the arrested individuals were remanded in custody.