The State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia and the head of the Customs Cooperation and Coordination Department of the CSTO are collaborating with Terminal Apaven PBV company to enhance the effectiveness of external economic activity and ensure the security of external economic operations. Recently, a suspicious package sent from the United States to Armenia was detected. The package, weighing 1148 grams, was found to contain a white substance resembling cocaine. Further analysis revealed that the substance was indeed cocaine hydrochloride, with an estimated market value exceeding 500,000 US dollars.

A coordinated effort has been initiated by the SRC and CSTO to investigate the package. Operational units from the Customs Cooperation and Coordination Department of the SRC and the CSTO have carried out various measures, including the operation “Detection and Purchase”. During this operation, the contents of the package were replaced with substances similar to cocaine, and a call was made to the recipient to confirm the delivery. Surprisingly, the phone call revealed that the package had been delivered to the wrong address.

Further investigation revealed that the phone number associated with the package belonged to an individual from the CSTO. The address of the intended recipient was subsequently discovered, leading to the detention of one individual who was then transferred to the Yerevan-Komitekas prison. Ultimately, it was determined that the criminal and smuggling activities in the Yerevan-Komitekas prison were concentrated within the prison’s residential area.

With the help of the court and the head of the CSTO, permission was obtained to search the homes of the detained individuals involved in the criminal activities. This search yielded substances similar to cocaine in two of the residences. This successful outcome is the result of the collaborative efforts of the operative group responsible for combating smuggling and drug trafficking, as well as the employees involved in state protection and external security from the SRC and the CSTO Customs Cooperation and Coordination Department.