Two Russian citizens arrested at Yerevan airport in back-to-back cash smuggling cases

Two Russian citizens have been placed under house arrest in Armenia after authorities uncovered separate cases of large-scale cash smuggling at Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport.

The State Revenue Committee, which oversees customs, said in a statement that together with National Security Service operatives it obtained information indicating that a Russian citizen identified by the initials R.T. had conspired to smuggle a large amount of cash from Russia to Armenia.

Upon arrival at Zvartnots Airport, the suspect was searched, and authorities found 65 million Russian rubles in undeclared cash, equivalent to about $870,000.

The case was referred to the Investigative Committee, and a court later ordered house arrest for the suspect.

One day later, authorities found an additional 7.6 million Russian rubles in undeclared cash—about $205,000 —in the possession of a relative of the suspect who had also arrived in Armenia. The second individual, also a Russian national, was likewise placed under house arrest by court order.