YEREVAN: The Russian border guard patrol prevented smuggling of alcoholic drink cost over 1 million 300,000 drams (about 2,800 dollars) at the border with Iran, press secretary of the Russian Federal Security Service border guard department in Armenia Sergey Grechin told.
A citizen of the Islamic Republic of Iran attempted to smuggle parts of drilling equipment and alcoholic drinks in a truck through Agarak checkpoint, Grechin said. The items were found in a specially equipped hidden compartment in the vehicle, he added.
The smuggler and the items were transferred to Meghri customs staff for further investigation.
Armenia’s 330-kilometer border with Turkey and 45-kilometer border with Iran is guarded by the frontier force of Russia’s Federal Security Service, which, according to Armenia’s leadership, is an important component of the country’s national security. The border guard patrol is deployed under an agreement signed between Armenia and Russia in Yerevan on September 30, 1992.
The Russian border force in Armenia consists of four platoons in Giumry, Armavir, Artashat and Meghri. Maintenance costs for the force (about 4,500 people) are covered by the two governments on more or less 50/50 basis.
