Baku: Two individuals on an international wanted list have been extradited to Azerbaijan from Georgia, as reported by APA, citing the Press Service of the Prosecutor General's Office. The extradition of Ismayilzada Abulfat Hasan oglu and Azizov Amal Sarvan oglu was facilitated by the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, adhering to the Convention of January 22, 1993, on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family, and Criminal Matters.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, these individuals were charged based on suspicions of involvement in criminal activities as per the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. They were placed on an international wanted list after evading investigation. Detained in Georgia, they were brought back to Azerbaijan under a special convoy of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice.
These extraditions are linked to a larger criminal case involving cigarette smuggling. Investigations revealed that employees of the Baku Hovsan International Trade Sea Port Customs Post and other organized crime group members conspired to smuggle tobacco products from the UAE and Iran into Azerbaijan without the required excise stamps. The smuggled tobacco was valued at over 5.4 million manats.
The individuals involved have been charged under several articles of the Criminal Code, including smuggling by an organized group, repeated storage of goods without excise markings, and abuse of official powers resulting in grave consequences. Several suspects, including Ruslan Eyyubov, Rashad Dashdamirov, and others, have been arrested, while some remain on international wanted lists.
In a related case, illegal activities of companies like 'RR Caspi' LLC and officials from the State Border Service were uncovered. This group allegedly smuggled over 1 million manats worth of tobacco products without excise markings into Azerbaijan. Charges against these individuals include smuggling by a group and abuse of official powers.
Court decisions have led to the arrest of key figures such as Elshan Ahmadov and Elchin Asgarov, with others placed under house arrest or on international wanted lists. The investigation continues as authorities work to bring all suspects to justice.
Source: Azeri-Press news agency