Senior customs officer of Yerevan airport arrested for diamond smuggling
By Sabina Idayatova
The Armenian Special Investigation Service arrested on Tuesday the head of the department of customs control of passengers of Yerevan international airport Zvartnots, Arsen Papazian, on suspicion of smuggling a large consignment of diamonds, RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Resident of Yerevan Ashot Gasparyan was arrested together with Papazyan.
A criminal case was opened under Article 215 of the Armenian Criminal Code concerning smuggling committed by an official through abuse of office, which envisions the maximum penalty of 12 years imprisonment with confiscation of property.
According to the preliminary investigation, a large consignment of diamonds weighing 2,702.58 carats (over 0.5 kilograms), acquired in the United Arab Emirates in collusion with Papazyan was taken on March 1 through the customs border to Armenia by hiding from the customs control and non-declaration.
Preliminary investigation continues.
Meanwhile, crime is flourishing in Armenia.
In Jan.-Feb. the number of crimes in Armenia increased nearly 20%
compared with the same period of last year, according to 1in.am
website.
According to the data published by the Armenian National
Statistical Service, in the first two month of the year
2,483 criminal cases were registered, compared with 2,077
cases recorded last year. Almost half of the crimes - 1,297 of them
- occurred in Yerevan.