VIDEO: Around 5.5 Million Dollar Goods; Customs Service Uncovers Sale of Luxury Watches and Tax Evasion

The Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department of the Republic of Armenia's Customs Service received operational information indicating that a trading operation involving branded luxury watches was being conducted via the Telegram channel 'Watch24.am' and the Instagram page 'watch24.am_new'. An investigation of the mentioned pages revealed that this operation had been ongoing for an extended period. Approximately 187 pieces of luxury watches, valued at a total of 5,433,986 USD, were advertised, primarily featuring brands such as ‘Rolex’, ‘Audemars Piguet’, and ‘Patek Philippe’. Notably, these branded watches for sale were promoted by various well-known public figures.

Simultaneously, it was reported that a resident of Yerevan, identified as H.K., was conducting this trade of luxury branded watches. To uncover the alleged tax violations, operational and investigative measures were developed and carried out. It was determined that the Yerevan resident, registered as an individual entrepreneur, had never imported or acquired any goods, and had only issued a transportation document for a branded watch on February 18, 2020, without subsequent transfer; he ceased operations on August 31, 2020.

For the purpose of implementing the obtained data, an operative purchase was conducted by an employee of the Investigative and Operational Intelligence Department under the operational-intelligence measure 'Controlled Purchase', where a ‘Rolex’ watch was selected for purchase. For this watch, H.K. requested a cash payment of 45,500 USD.

As per the agreement reached, a cash amount of 45,500 USD was paid, in exchange for which the watch was sold along with its factory box. Immediately after the execution of the 'Controlled Purchase' operational-intelligence measure, and based on the existence of reasonable suspicion of concealing the taxable object to evade paying substantial taxes, the citizen was arrested and brought to the Investigative and Operational Intelligence Department of the Republic of Armenia's Customs Service.

During a personal search of the suspect, 20,053 USD, 330 UAE dirhams, 50 euros, and a ‘Breguet’ branded watch were discovered.

Note: A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia and by a legally binding court verdict.