Officers from the Central Criminal Police of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, along with departments in Tbilisi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Adjara, Imereti, and Shida Kartli, in cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Office, conducted operational and investigative activities that led to the arrest of 22 individuals on drug-related charges, including 19 drug dealers.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), the detainees include citizens of Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Turkey.
The crimes carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.
Georgian MIA officers conducted multiple covert investigative operations based on a court order. The police carried out repeated controlled purchases of various types of narcotic substances from the detainees, as well as secret audio and video recordings of these transactions.
During searches of the detainees' personal belongings, residences, and specified locations, law enforcement seized large quantities of narcotic substances, including heroin, amphetamine, Suboxone, buprenorphine, Alpha-PVP, methadone, and marijuana. As part of the investigation, police also confiscated money suspected to have been obtained through drug trafficking, adhesive tapes, and electronic scales as evidence.
The investigation is being conducted under Articles 260, 18-260, 19-260, and 273-prim of the Criminal Code of Georgia, according to the MIA statement.