Armenia’s Investigative Committee said foreign nationals living in Armenia helped smuggle 25.5 kg of opium and 3 kg of marijuana into the country on an especially large scale.[1] One of the foreigners tried to smuggle 13.8 kg of opium hidden in electric relays in two parcels to Germany and one parcel to Great Britain, but was stopped by State Revenue Committee officers.[1] Detained M.K. went with SRC officers to his residence and handed over packages with 8,677 grams of opium and 2,680 grams of marijuana plus a fireproof safe with suspected drugs, which were seized.[1] Two other alleged group members, foreign citizens R.Sh. and M.A., were detained at the same time and taken to the investigating authority.[1]

Detention was ordered as the restraint measure against the accused.[2] Searches at the foreigners’ residence and inspections of the fireproof cabinet uncovered a significant amount of controlled substances.[2] The authorities put the market value of the seized opium and marijuana at about 1,193,445,000 drams.[1] On the prosecutor’s decision, public criminal prosecution was brought against R.Sh. and M.K. for illegal drug circulation for sale and attempted smuggling, and against M.A. on additional smuggling-facilitation counts under articles 393, 44-399 and 46-399.[1]

The preliminary investigation is continuing to identify other people who acquired especially large quantities of drugs in Armenia.[1]