Armenian customs officers foil attempts of smuggling 37 million drams worth drugs
23.09.2016,
16:04
Armenia’s State Revenue Committee said today its unit in charge of combating smuggling has revealed 30 cases of contraband and violations of customs laws, imposing a total of 37 million drams worth penalties (about $78,100).
YEREVAN, September 23. /ARKA/. Armenia’s State Revenue Committee said today its unit in charge of combating smuggling has revealed 30 cases of contraband and violations of customs laws, imposing a total of 37 million drams worth penalties (about $78,100). It said statistics show that the bulk of breaches are attempts of illegal drug trafficking.
According to chief customs inspector Tigran Simonyan, one of the attempts of smuggling drugs was made by means of a postal parcel.
A careful study of a seemingly ordinary parcel, sent to Armenia from Germany, revealed that drugs were hidden inside toys and clothes. A detailed inspection found 1,380 white pills with B8 marking hidden in the toys.
The pills turned out to be a drug known as "Subutex" containing 11.04 grams of buprenorphine. In accordance with the Criminal Code of Armenia, 0.2 grams of buprenorphine is already considered a particularly large amount.
"As a result of screening another parcel that was to be sent from Armenia to Canada weighing 5.54 kg a substance was found inside the nuts with a specific smell, similar to opium,' said Simonyan.
The forensic chemical examination showed that the substance was opium. The sender is a Syrian citizen of Armenian descent who actually lives in Yerevan, Agob Dernersesyan, was tracked down and detained on the same day.
The State Revenue Committee said its officers have also revealed various types of caches with narcotic and psychotropic drugs like opium, cannabis, methadone and tramadol. The officers have also seized 207 mobile phones and tablets of different models, 111 of which were found at the checkpoint Bagratashen in a specially equipped cache in the cabin of Mercedes-Benz car that arrived from Georgia.
Another attempt was made to illegally import to Armenia a large batch of drugs, various household appliances, automobiles, auto parts, household goods and food. There were also five cases of thwarted attempts of smuggling diesel fuel. -0-
According to chief customs inspector Tigran Simonyan, one of the attempts of smuggling drugs was made by means of a postal parcel.
A careful study of a seemingly ordinary parcel, sent to Armenia from Germany, revealed that drugs were hidden inside toys and clothes. A detailed inspection found 1,380 white pills with B8 marking hidden in the toys.
The pills turned out to be a drug known as "Subutex" containing 11.04 grams of buprenorphine. In accordance with the Criminal Code of Armenia, 0.2 grams of buprenorphine is already considered a particularly large amount.
"As a result of screening another parcel that was to be sent from Armenia to Canada weighing 5.54 kg a substance was found inside the nuts with a specific smell, similar to opium,' said Simonyan.
The forensic chemical examination showed that the substance was opium. The sender is a Syrian citizen of Armenian descent who actually lives in Yerevan, Agob Dernersesyan, was tracked down and detained on the same day.
The State Revenue Committee said its officers have also revealed various types of caches with narcotic and psychotropic drugs like opium, cannabis, methadone and tramadol. The officers have also seized 207 mobile phones and tablets of different models, 111 of which were found at the checkpoint Bagratashen in a specially equipped cache in the cabin of Mercedes-Benz car that arrived from Georgia.
Another attempt was made to illegally import to Armenia a large batch of drugs, various household appliances, automobiles, auto parts, household goods and food. There were also five cases of thwarted attempts of smuggling diesel fuel. -0-
