Ministry of Justice presents October progress report on narcotic drugs and other prohibited items detected at penitentiary institutions in Armenia

The officers of the Operations Division, Security and Safety Division of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice continue their unwavering fight against the circulation of prohibited items and narcotic drugs, as well as for exclusion of the cases of card games within penitentiary institutions. Adhering to the policy of transparent and accountable administration adopted by the Government, the Ministry of Justice is presenting a progress report on narcotic drugs and other prohibited items detected at penitentiary institutions in Armenia in the month of October.

Thus, the officers of "Artik" Penitentiary Institution examined the TV-set brought by a citizen in the name of detained persons, in which 2 mobile phones, as well as one electrically insulating board for a mobile phone were detected.

A convict engaged in technical and general labour activities applied to the officers of the Security Support Division of "Armavir" Penitentiary Institution. The desire of the convict to carry out activities beyond the scheduled hour sparked suspicions among the officers who observed the convict and inspected the area of the corridor in which the convict had been standing. As a result, they detected a package that contained a white, crystal-like mass.

In another case, the officers of "Armavir" Penitentiary Institution inspected the deliverable brought by a citizen in the name of a convict, and a brown mass resembling a narcotic drug was detected within the deliverable.

A suspicious package wrapped in a polyethylene film was detected on the floor in the back of the block of the bathroom of "Sevan" Penitentiary Institution, and it contained a greenish, dry mass resembling narcotic drug of "Marijuana" type and two mobile phones without a SIM-card.

A few days later, a dropped package was detected in the same penitentiary institution again, and it contained a mobile phone, a display of and case for the mobile phone, an earphone and a USB cable. A suspicious package with 2 mobile phones, a USB cable and an earphone were also detected on the grass cover of the exercise yard — designed for convicts — of the same penitentiary institution.

The officers of "Vardashen" Penitentiary Institution detected two concealed cardboard packages and one IV dropper underneath the roof cover of the bathroom in the low safety zone. Along with two packages, there was also a yellow-green mass resembling narcotic drug of "Marijuana" type.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated under all the aforementioned cases, and forensic-chemical expert examinations have been assigned.