Azerbaijani apples were bribed into Armenian market by smugglers – law enforcement agencies launch probe

As result of an investigation of the national security service for uncovering how Azerbaijani apples were imported to the Armenian market, authorities launched a criminal case on tax evasion.

Law enforcement agencies revealed that a group of Armenian citizens were engaged in smuggling agricultural products, including the apples of Azerbaijani origin, into Armenia via Georgian territory. The products have been smuggled, i.e. without customs control.

The smugglers had bribed customs ofcers for clearance. In addition, the state revenue committee discovered that another group of citizens have acquired those Azerbaijani apples and sold them in the Armenian market.

Authorities also revealed that several customs ofcials of the Bagratashen checkpoint have regularly received bribes from illegitimate businessmen from December, 2016 to April 2017, for smuggling fruits and vegetables through the Armenian border.

The SRC launched a criminal case for both the bribery case and the illegitimate business operations. The investigation has been assigned to the special investigative service, since the criminal proceedings are related to crimes committed by law enforcement ofcers.