YEREVAN. – Department on Combat against Organized Crime of the Armenian Police apprehended the head of third department of Malayan Ophthalmological Centre Hovhannes Simonyan, 38, and Vahram Rushanyan, 44, on suspicion of drug possession and distribution.  

The search revealed 8.5 grams of marijuana belonging to Simonyan.

It turned out that he had bought the drug from Ninella Igityan, who was detained in a short notice. Interrogation showed that Ninella Igityan periodically acquired marijuana in amount of 80 grams ($25 per gram) from Sergey Tonoyan, 35, the head of registration branch of Avan department of State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre under the Government of Armenia.

Tonoyan was detained in Zvartnots airport, trying to leave the country.

Investigation revealed that Sergey Tonoyan, together with his friends Armen Martirosyan, 50, and US citizen Suren Khudaverdyan, 34, grew plants necessary for marijuana preparation in the basement of 18 Proshyan street mansion and sold out the drug. Effective December 2010 Tonoyan’s brother Stephan Tonoyan, 32, an agent of Criminal Investigation Department of Yerevan Police assisted his brother in business matters.

Both Tonoyan brothers and Hovhannes Simonyan are arrested. On May 28 a criminal case has been filed to Special Investigation Department.

 

   Hovhannes Simonyan        Sergey Tonoyan                  Stephan Tonoyan

    Suren Khudaverdyan          Armen Martirosyan

Photo: Gagik Shamshyan