58-Year-Old Man Arrested for Offering Drugs to Minor Girl

On May 18, 2024, at 15:20, a report was received from a resident of Ararat region regarding her former employee attempting to sell drugs to her underage daughter. The authorities were presented with 3.9 grams of drugs found near the girl, made from cannabis plants. This is reported by the Investigative Committee.

A criminal case has been initiated under the first part of Article 393 of the RA Criminal Code at the Vedi Investigation Division of the Ararat Regional Investigation Department. As a result of operational-search measures and investigative actions, the identity of the person who illegally sold drugs to the school-aged girl was established, identified as a 58-year-old resident of Ararat region.

Based on reasonable suspicion of having committed a crime, the man was arrested and interrogated about the circumstances of the case, during which he provided a confession. The investigation has obtained factual evidence indicating that the man, being aware that the girl was underage, had discussed drug use with her and had offered her to try drugs, leading the girl to develop an interest in drugs and express a desire to use them.

Without considering the girl's minor status, the man sold her a substance resembling cannabis that he had obtained from an acquaintance. A forensic chemical examination was assigned regarding the substance presented by the minor's mother. According to the conclusion obtained, the substance consisted of plant fragments of cannabis and tobacco and is classified as a drug containing tetrahydrocannabinols.

Based on sufficient evidence, the 58-year-old man has been charged under the first part of Article 393 of the RA Criminal Code. A motion has been submitted to the court to apply detention as a preventive measure, which has been granted. The pre-investigation is ongoing.

Measures are being taken to clarify the circumstances of the case, the source of the drug procurement, as well as to identify other possible similar criminal incidents.

The RA Investigative Committee warns that it will take the strictest legal approach to illegal involvement of minors in drug trafficking, offering drugs, and encouraging their use within its jurisdiction. We urge minors, their parents, or relatives to immediately report such incidents to law enforcement agencies.

Note: The accused is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict that has entered into legal force in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code of the RA.