Acting on operational intelligence, officers from the Tavush Regional Criminal Police Department traveled to the administrative territory of Hovk village on September 23. Criminal police officers detained three residents of the Gegharkunik region who were in the process of removing soil to steal iron pipes, and transported them to the department. The area, where two tractors were operating, was taken under police custody. This was reported by the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The detained individuals and the compiled case files were transferred to the Dilijan Investigative Division, where criminal proceedings have been initiated.
According to preliminary data, heavy machinery was used to remove approximately 450 meters of topsoil, and over 300 meters of 70 cm-diameter iron piping was extracted by cutting the welds. Damage on an especially large scale has been caused to the state. Circumstances are being determined.
