Armenia's Community Police have uncovered an alleged case of illegal basalt extraction in Vayots Dzor Province, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

According to the ministry, officers from the Yeghegnadzor Community Police Department received information that a 70-year-old resident of Vayk, with the assistance of a 49-year-old resident of Malishka, had organized mining activities without the required license or permits.

The information was verified during the investigation.

Police said that volcanic basalt was being extracted illegally from municipally owned land in Malishka, transported to a stone-processing facility in Vayk owned by the 70-year-old man, and then sold.

On June 20, officers visited the extraction site, where they detained the 49-year-old man believed to have assisted in the operation, along with four other individuals. All five were taken to the police department.

The mobile crane and the truck loaded with basalt stone used in the operation were seized and transferred to a secured storage area.

The case materials have been submitted to the Vayots Dzor Regional Investigative Department, where criminal proceedings have been initiated.

According to preliminary estimates, the alleged illegal activity caused major financial damage to the state.

The investigation is ongoing, and the circumstances of the case are being clarified.