Drugs and Ammunition Acquired Through Telegram User: Details Revealed

The Armenian Investigative Committee’s Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases has uncovered a criminal group involved in the illegal drug trade via a Telegram channel. Investigations have provided evidence that a 26-year-old resident of Yerevan, identified as K.H., along with his close associates A.E. (26) and M.H. (24), as well as other unidentified individuals, conspired to illegally acquire large amounts of various drugs via the Telegram application under the alias “M…” and other users for the purpose of sale.

They organized the separation of drugs by weight, packaging, and pre-placed them in hidden locations. Subsequently, the locations of the drugs were photographed, their coordinates were marked via an application, and they were transferred through four online stores registered in the Telegram app to individuals who expressed interest in acquiring drugs and had sent the necessary payments to the affiliated cryptocurrency wallets.

In doing so, they were involved in the sale of drugs in especially large quantities. K.H. and M.H. used electronic wallets, bank accounts, and betting company accounts to conceal the illegal origins of finances obtained from drug trafficking, amounting to a total of 231,014,464 AMD, to avoid detection from authorities and continue their criminal operations without obstruction.

Specifically, individuals wishing to acquire drugs through these online platforms were provided with details of several cryptocurrency wallets. These individuals made money transfers to electronic wallets belonging to individuals engaged in cryptocurrency exchanges, which were then sent to the provided cryptocurrency wallets of the online stores. Following this, they sent the transaction receipts to those online stores and illegally obtained the ordered drugs.

Based on sufficient evidence, charges have been brought against K.H. under Article 393, Part 3, Subsection 2; Article 296, Part 3, Subsection 3; and Article 335, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code; against M.H. under Article 393, Part 3, Subsection 2; and Article 296, Part 3, Subsection 3; and against A.E. under Article 393, Part 3, Subsection 2. The preliminary investigation regarding the latter has concluded, and the case materials, along with an indictment conclusion, have been sent to the supervising prosecutor. The investigation continues regarding the unidentified individuals of the criminal group and the sources of K.H.’s illegal weapon acquisition.

A warning: The accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a legally binding court verdict in accordance with the RA Criminal Procedure Code.

The investigation has revealed details about these individuals and companies, as well as the amounts of money transferred. It has been established that the members of the group received and managed a total of 231,014,464 AMD obtained through illegal means across various electronic wallets and bank accounts.

Additionally, K.H. illegally acquired a homemade revolver with a caliber of 5.6mm and 79 pieces of ammunition, which were discovered during the search. Significant amounts of money were identified through accounts linked to M.H., including 13,783,908 AMD in the Idram system, 2,893,978 AMD in the Telcell system, and a total of 25,822,633 AMD across two bank cards. From this amount, a total of 3,638,932 AMD were transferred between his accounts, while several methods were used to manage the total sum of 39,378,908 AMD.

Subsequently, the cryptocurrency obtained in the wallets was transferred to wallets operated by individuals engaged in cryptocurrency exchanges within Armenia, and then the converted financial assets were transferred by the accomplices to various electronic wallets, bank accounts, and betting accounts. Between 2020 to 2023, K.H. has had a total of 75,008,398 AMD deposited in the Idram wallet, 10,042,743 AMD in the Telcell system, and a total of 170,311,258 AMD across four bank cards, while managing substantial sums derived from his illegal activities.