Tougher criminal punishment for drug trafficking in Armenia 

ArmInfo.  Criminal liability measures for drug trafficking will be seriously tightened in Armenia. The amendments to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia submitted by the NA deputy from the ruling Civil Contract faction  Hayk Sargsyan are being discussed at the meeting of the RA National  Assembly Committee on State and Legal Affairs on May 5.

Presenting the bill, the author of the initiative noted that illegal  drug trafficking is a serious problem today both in the world and in  the Republic of Armenia. Moreover, in different countries of the  world, quite strict criminal penalties are provided for illegal drug  trafficking. Thus, in Georgia, imprisonment for up to 11 years is  provided for the manufacture, production, acquisition, storage,  transportation and sale of narcotic drugs and precursors, in Turkey,  imprisonment for at least 15 years is provided for the sale and  provision of narcotic drugs and stimulants to minors, in the Islamic  Republic of Iran, a fine of about 550 thousand drams is provided for  the import and export, production, distribution and sale of up to 50  grams of prohibited drugs, and a fine of 100 thousand rials for  committing a crime. For large volumes, the IRI provides for the death  penalty and confiscation of property. In the Russian Federation, the  illegal production, sale, transfer of narcotic drugs, psychotropic  substances, their analogues in large quantities to adults by an  organized group using their official position, as well as the illegal  sale or transfer of plants containing narcotic drugs or psychotropic  substances, or parts thereof, shall be punishable by imprisonment for  a term of ten to twenty years with deprivation of the right to hold  certain positions or engage in certain activities for a term of up to  twenty years and a fine of up to one million rubles.

Sargsyan emphasized that illegal drug trafficking is directly related  to public health. The fight against this evil has always been under  the constant control of the RA Police. Today, illegal drug  trafficking through Internet applications is becoming more  widespread. In 2023, law enforcement agencies of the republic  identified 5,070 cases of crimes related to narcotic drugs,  psychotropic substances and their precursors against 2,266 a year  earlier, which is 2,804 cases or 123.7% more. The sharp increase in  drug trafficking is due to the increase in the number of cases of  illegal drug trafficking via the Internet. During 2023, as a result  of operational and investigative measures carried out by the police  units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia,  489 cases of illegal drug trafficking via the Internet were detected,  including 128 cases of sale and 361 cases of purchase (in 2022, 134  cases, including 37 cases of sale and 97 cases of purchase). During  2023, as a result of measures taken by law enforcement agencies of  the republic, 202 kg 60 grams of various types of narcotics were  seized from illegal circulation (in 2022 - 119 kg 70 grams).

According to the records of the narcological service, the number of  people using drugs increases annually (2018 - 6951, 2019 - 7209, 2020  - 7392, 2021 - 7570, 2022 - 7738). The analysis shows a constant  increase in cases of illegal drug trafficking via the Internet. The  Department for Combating Illegal Drug Trafficking of the Main  Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the  Republic of Armenia conducts daily inspections to identify newly  opened, renamed and closed online "shops" selling drugs. At the  moment, the department's employees are monitoring more than 620  "shops" and communication channels. In addition to the "shops", there  are more than 100 chats, where drugs are mainly advertised.

Taking into account the above, it became necessary to amend and  supplement the Criminal Code. The amendments envisaged in the draft  are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the fight against  illegal drug trafficking using information and communication systems  in the territory of the Republic of Armenia. As a result of the  analysis of cases registered in the Republic of Armenia, it becomes  clear that illegal drug trafficking through information and  communication technologies has increased sharply. In addition, in  2024, 252 cases of illegal drug trafficking via the Internet were  recorded, of which 62 cases were related to drug trafficking.

The draft law envisages supplementing the articles related to crimes  against the circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances,  their precursors as crimes with aggravating circumstances. In  particular, in Part 2 of Articles 393, 394 and 402 of the Criminal  Code of the Republic of Armenia, the commission of an act through  information and communication technologies is defined as an  aggravating circumstance, and in Part 3 of Articles 393 and 394, the  commission of an act with the participation of a minor is defined as  a particularly aggravating circumstance.

In addition, it is planned to toughen criminal liability for certain  crimes. In particular, it is proposed to provide for criminal  punishment for various episodes for a term of 3 years to life  imprisonment. The specified penalties, as noted by the speaker,  correspond to the penalties applied in the United States, Canada and  the United Kingdom.  Tougher measures should lead to a reduction in  drug trafficking. At the same time, it is important to carry out  explanatory work to inform the public about the inevitability of  severe punishment for what was done.