As a result of police operations conducted by Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs over a 48-hour period in Tbilisi and across the country's regions, 119 individuals were arrested on drug-related charges, including 49 suspected drug dealers. This was announced at a briefing by the Director of the Tbilisi Police Department, Vaja Siradze.
According to him, those detained include both Georgian citizens and foreign nationals.
“During searches of individuals arrested on drug-related charges, as well as their vehicles, residences, and locations indicated by them, law enforcement officers seized particularly large quantities of various narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances as evidence, including heroin, cocaine, alpha-PVP, methadone, mephedrone, buprenorphine, and others.
As part of police preventive measures and investigative activities, officers also confiscated materials used for packaging narcotics, money believed to have been obtained from drug sales, and a large number of firearms and ammunition.
Based on court orders, law enforcement officers repeatedly carried out controlled purchases of narcotics from individuals accused of illegal drug distribution and made covert audio and video recordings of these transactions. Evidence obtained during the investigation indicates that the detained drug dealers systematically sold narcotics to citizens in exchange for money.
The investigation is being conducted under Articles 260, 260³, 260⁴, 265, and 236 of the Criminal Code, which provide for penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment or life imprisonment.
Police units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue their uncompromising fight against organized crime, including drug-related crime, throughout the country on an ongoing basis. I would like to thank every employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the successful police operation,” Vaja Siradze stated.