Detained criminal group consisted of 19 members
25.11.2015,
19:40
Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) has released today additional information about an operation during which its officers tracked down and detained an organized criminal group that planned a series of ‘serious’ crimes in the territory of Armenia.
YEREVAN, November 25. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) has released today additional information about an operation during which its officers tracked down and detained an organized criminal group that planned a series of ‘serious’ crimes in the territory of Armenia.
According to an NSS statement, the group was headed by Artur Vardanyan, 34, a citizen of Armenia, a former resident of Yerevan, who has lived in Spain since 1997 and arrived in Armenia earlier this year to set up and head the criminal group.
The NSS said he managed to recruit 18 mainly jobless young people. According to the statement, five members of the group are residents of Yerevan, seven are from the northwestern region of Shirak, three are from Armavir province, two are from Lori and three others are from Kotayk, Gegharkunik and Syunik regions respectively. Four are women and three are veterans of the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
The NSS said after searching a mansion in a Yerevan neighborhood rented by the group, they found machine guns, pistols, grenade launchers, hand grenades, explosives and explosive devices, communications equipment, ammunition clips, military uniforms, including bulletproof vests.
The security officers have found also maps of Yerevan and Gyumri, the second largest town of Armenia as well as books confirming their criminal plans.
The NSS said it has opened a criminal case under part 1 and 2 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code (establishment and participation in a criminal organization) and part 3 of Article 235 (illegal purchase, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons by a group of persons at prior agreement).
According to an NSS statement, the group was headed by Artur Vardanyan, 34, a citizen of Armenia, a former resident of Yerevan, who has lived in Spain since 1997 and arrived in Armenia earlier this year to set up and head the criminal group.
The NSS said he managed to recruit 18 mainly jobless young people. According to the statement, five members of the group are residents of Yerevan, seven are from the northwestern region of Shirak, three are from Armavir province, two are from Lori and three others are from Kotayk, Gegharkunik and Syunik regions respectively. Four are women and three are veterans of the Nagorno-Karabakh war.
The NSS said after searching a mansion in a Yerevan neighborhood rented by the group, they found machine guns, pistols, grenade launchers, hand grenades, explosives and explosive devices, communications equipment, ammunition clips, military uniforms, including bulletproof vests.
The security officers have found also maps of Yerevan and Gyumri, the second largest town of Armenia as well as books confirming their criminal plans.
The NSS said it has opened a criminal case under part 1 and 2 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code (establishment and participation in a criminal organization) and part 3 of Article 235 (illegal purchase, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons by a group of persons at prior agreement).
