SNS Detection: Over 127 Tons of Whitefish Illegal Fishing from Lake Sevan

SNS Detection: Over 127 Tons of Whitefish Illegal Fishing from Lake Sevan

EcoLur

RA National Security Service has revealed numerous cases of illegal fishing and storage of fish stocks from Lake Sevan by a group of people in a number of communities of Gegharkunik and Kotayk Regions under the guise of other fish species through smuggling.

“As a result of analyzing the received operative data, it was found out that in the course of 2019-202 0 unknown persons, with preliminary consent, illegally fished 12,200 kg of whitefish from Lake Sevan without proper permission has caused a particularly large amount of damage to wildlife. Then, the above-mentioned large fish, obtained by them in an obviously criminal way, were sold to S. S., K. M. and V. G., who transferred and kept the fish in the refrigeration farm of a State Non-Commercial Organization in Kotayk Region.

Besides, according to the received data, in 2019-2020 unknown persons, with preliminary consent, illegally fished 46,689 kg of whitefish from Lake Sevan without proper permission thus causing great damage to wildlife. Then, the mentioned persons sold the whitefish to S. M. և K. M., who transferred it and kept it in the refrigeration farm in Nor Artamet Community, Kotayk Region.

A criminal case has been initiated in RA SNS Investigation Department, a preliminary investigation is underway.

As a result of about two dozen searches in the criminal case, a total of 127,171 kilograms of Sevan whitefish stored in frozen condition were found in refrigeration farms in a number of communities located in the administrative territory of Kotayk and Gegharkunik Regions.

In the combination of sufficient evidence obtained in the criminal case, three persons were involved as defendants, and the signature on not leaving was chosen as a precautionary measure.

The SNS prevented illegal fishing of about 4.2 tons of smoked Sevan whitefish at the "Bagratashen" customs checkpoint, at the cargo complex of Zvartnots Airport, which were presented as Mackerel canned fish in the export documents.

Notice: A person suspected or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by RA Criminal Procedure Code by a court judgment that has entered into force,” the SNS press release says.



August 10, 2020 at 12:52