YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Special forces of the National Security Service and the Police of the Republic of Armenia transferred 10 members of the criminal group arrested in Street N 9 of Nork-Marash Administrative district on November 25 to detention facility of Armenia National Security Service. “Armenpress” will later present its footage of the transfer of the criminal group members.

 “Armenpress” correspondent reports that the street is still closed. “Armenpress” correspondent informs from the scene that the entry of cars is not permitted. A local resident of the street whose house is located in front of the house of the members of the neutralized criminal group said that he had heard sounds at approximately 05:30 in the morning but moments later everything calmed down.  They saw in the morning that the street was full of policemen and that а special-forces raid had been carried out. He also added that the residents of the house did not raise any suspicions and they did not observe anything strange about their behavior.

A criminal group has been revealed as a result of operative investigation works carried out by the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. The group intended to organize a number of grave crimes in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.  

As “Armenpress” was informed by the press center of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, Armenia citizen, former resident of Yerevan, Artur Vardanyan residing abroad arrived in Armenia in 2015, formed and headed a criminal group. According to preliminary agreement, the group illegally acquired a large number of weapons and ammunition concealing it in a rented house in Nork district of Yerevan.

In joint searches with the Police on November 25, different rifles, pistols, grenade launchers, grenades, explosive materials and equipment, cartridges, bullets etc. were discovered.   Artur Vardanyan and 9 members of the criminal group were discovered in the house during the searches. The criminals have been arrested.

A criminal case has been initiated in Investigative Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with parts 1 and 2 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. Preliminary investigation is being held. Additional information will be provided later.