Five people accused of gold smuggling in Azerbaijan have been sentenced, APA reports.
The verdict was announced at the Court of Grave Crimes of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in a trial presided over by Judge Faig Heydarov.
Under the verdict, defendants Ali A. and Jalil M. were sentenced to five years and six months in prison, while Vusal S., Afig A. and Ravan A. were each sentenced to five years.
They will serve their sentences in general-regime correctional facilities.
Three of them were taken into custody in the courtroom.
The defendants were detained last year as a result of an operation conducted by the State Security Service.
According to the indictment, in September 2025, they agreed to smuggle gold items to Türkiye for sale and divide the proceeds.
For this purpose, a total of AZN 215,000 was raised. Gold items of various purities were melted at the “Moscow” shopping center in Baku’s Nasimi district and turned into 999-fineness gold necklaces and bracelets.
The gold items had a total value of AZN 213,594 and weighed 984.94 grams. It was established that the gold was concealed in the rear seat of a Baku-Nakhchivan passenger bus in order to hide it from customs control. It was then transported through the Bilasuvar customs checkpoint into Iran, from there to Nakhchivan via Julfa, and was planned to be taken to Türkiye.
According to the information, Ali A. organized the transportation of the gold to Türkiye, while Jalil M. assisted him.
Vusal S., Afig A. and Ravan A. reportedly participated in the purchase, melting, preparation and financing of the gold.
Ali A. and Jalil M. were ultimately charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy), while Vusal S., Afig A. and Ravan A. were charged under Articles 32 and 206.3.2 (complicity in smuggling committed by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy).
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