Major Drug Trafficking Attempt from Iran to Armenia Prevented

The Armenian National Security Service (NSS) has uncovered and prevented a case of smuggling a large quantity of illegal drugs into Armenia from the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) based on operational data received by the NSS.

According to the NSS, as a result of extensive operational and investigative measures undertaken by the NSS's Yerevan division, it was revealed that Armenian citizens A.M. and S.S., in preliminary agreement with an IRI citizen, coordinated their actions and attempted to smuggle a substantial batch of drugs into Armenia on November 10 of this year for distribution.

Members of the criminal group received the mentioned batch of drugs from the IRI citizen in the border zone of the Armenian-Iranian state border and attempted to transport it to Yerevan, but they were arrested by the employees of the NSS's Syunik regional directorate.

Based on a report of the obvious crime and accompanying evidence, a criminal case was initiated by the Investigative Committee's Syunik regional investigative division. A search of A.M.'s vehicle revealed 26 kilograms of drugs, including 4.690 kg of methamphetamine and 20.842 kg of marijuana.

The two Armenian citizens have been subjected to public criminal prosecution under Articles 46-399, 399, and 393 of the Criminal Code. A.M. and S.S. have been placed in custody as a preventative measure.

Given the high degree of danger presented by the described act, the initiated criminal case has been transferred from the Syunik regional investigative division to the headquarters for the investigation of trafficking in persons, sexual offenses against minors, and drug-related crimes at the Armenian Investigative Committee.

During the pre-trial investigation, searches were conducted at the residences of individuals involved in the criminal activity, leading to the discovery of two pistols with loaded magazines, five loaded bullets, various quantities of methamphetamine and marijuana, counterfeit banknotes, suspicious vials, electronic scales, and used syringes.

Notice: A person charged with a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, through a legally binding court verdict.