Armenian national security service foils drug transit attempt

YEREVAN, February 12. / ARKA /. Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) said today it had tracked down a transnational group involved in illegal drug trafficking through the territory of Armenia.

"As a result of a string of operative measures it was revealed that citizens of Peru and Argentina brought to Armenia drugs from Latin America by transit flights in special caches made in their luggage and then handed them to a gang members comprising citizens of Bulgaria and Lebanon, who tried to take drugs to Turkey by land or air routes," NSS said in a statement.

In particular, on January 27, the National Security Service officers discovered and foiled an attempt to bring in to Armenia 2.7 kg of cocaine by the flight San Paolo- Abu Dhabi- Yerevan. According to the NSS, the attempt was made by citizens of Peru - Cordoba Alexander and Maria Flores Alvardo Mirza.

"An Argentinean citizen Alejandro Joel Torres tried to bring in another 2.6 kg of cocaine to Armenia by the same flight on February 12. On the same day two citizens of Bulgaria (Arabs by nationality) - Malik Abbas Gharib and Al Shaher Hasan Abdo tried to  take 4.8 kilograms of cocaine to Turkey aboard the Yerevan - Istanbul flight," according to the  statement

NSS has opened a criminal case. The investigation is being handled by the investigation department of the National Security Service.-0--