ArmInfo. The strengthening of control on the section of the Meghri-Agarak (M2) highway, along the state border of the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran, is associated with an increase in attempts to illegally import hard drugs and psychotropic substances (hashish, methamphetamine, heroin) from Iran to the Republic of Armenia.
This was stated at the request of ArmInfo by the press service of the Border Guards of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSS) in the Republic of Armenia, referring to the reasons for strengthening control on the Meghri-Agarak section of the highway, along the border with Iran.
It should be noted that earlier, a number of Armenian media, referring to head of the enlarged Meghri community, Bagrat Zakaryan, in order to cross the road from Meghri to Agarak, it is necessary to pass through checkpoints. He clarified that Russian peacekeepers have formed about 5 modular checkpoints in Meghri, where Russian border troops carry out border service. They were established 8-9 months ago.
The head of community specified that one of the checkpoints was established on the Meghri-Agarak road, on the banks of the Araks, the other one on the road leading to Agarak, another checkpoint was also established on the road leading to Shvanidzor, two more checkpoints were established on intercommunal roads leading to villages. In this regard, the Border Guards of the Russian FSS in RA reminded that they carry out their activities to protect the state border of Armenia with the Republic of Turkey and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the basis of the interstate agreement "On the status of the border troops of the Russian Federation deployed on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, and the conditions for their functioning signed between the two countries in 1992. "Recently, a tense operational situation has developed on the Armenian-Iranian section of the state border, caused by an increase in attempts to illegally transfer heavy narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (hashish, methamphetamine, heroin) from Iran to Armenia. In addition, cases of violation of the state border by representatives of extremist and terrorist organizations are recorded. Thus, in 2021, the Russian Border Guards arrested two militants in the territory of the border guard detachment of Meghri – armed with weapons, grenades and a large amount of ammunition, which came illegally from Iran.
In order to ensure the security of the Republic of Armenia, in accordance with the RA law "On the State Border", in agreement with the Government, the National Security Service and other competent bodies of Armenia, since the beginning of this year, a number of equipped posts on duty of border guards have been established to carry out selective (and in case of search and prosecution of violators of the border – all without to carry out selective verification actions related to persons and vehicles in order to identify(and in the case of the search and prosecution of border violators, all persons, without exception), prevent and suppress the facts of smuggling, organization of illegal migration and other offenses. We ask citizens moving in the border zone to treat with understanding the legitimate requirements of law enforcement agencies," the Border Guards said.