VIDEO: Attempted to Smuggle Over $550,000 Worth of Cocaine into Armenia

The Armenian Customs Committee’s Anti-Smuggling Division, in collaboration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), received operational data indicating that a large shipment of cocaine was being smuggled into the Republic of Armenia from the Federative Republic of Brazil. This was reported by the Customs Committee.

Through analytical work, the employees of the Anti-Smuggling Division identified the possible identity of the individual transporting the drugs. A South African national, J.M., arriving at Zvartnots International Airport on a flight from São Paulo via Doha, was subjected to customs control. An X-ray scan revealed foreign objects in the individual’s abdominal area.

To remove these foreign objects, J.M. was transferred from Zvartnots International Airport to the Armenia Republican Medical Center. A total of 117 cylindrical packages containing a white powdery substance resembling cocaine was extracted from the person’s body. The total weight of the packages was 1620 grams. The substances were analyzed with the appropriate equipment, confirming they were indeed cocaine.

The market value of the seized drugs exceeds $550,000. Based on reasonable suspicion of drug smuggling, J.M. was arrested at the Armenia Republican Medical Center and transferred to the Anti-Smuggling Division of the Customs Committee.

In order to identify potential recipients of the drugs within Armenia, a decision was made to conduct operational-investigative measures including “Collection of Operational Information” and “Controlled Delivery and Purchase.” As a result of urgent operational-investigative measures taken by employees of the Anti-Smuggling Division, two citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran were arrested at a hotel on Isakov Avenue in Yerevan on charges directly related to drug smuggling.

These individuals were brought to the Economic Crimes and Smuggling Investigative Division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, where all the citizens were arrested under Articles 393 and 399 of the Armenian Criminal Code. In the course of the criminal proceedings, the investigative body submitted motions to the court to select detention as a preventive measure for the arrested individuals. According to the court's decisions, all three citizens have been placed in custody.