Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained an additional 44 individuals on charges related to the sale, preparation for sale, attempted sale, facilitation of sale, as well as the importation, acquisition, and possession of particularly large quantities of narcotic substances in Georgia.
As noted by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze during a briefing today, over the past two months, 1,417 individuals have been detained on charges related to narcotic crimes.
“The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues its uncompromising fight against the illegal trafficking and distribution of narcotics. As a result of measures carried out by law enforcement, numerous instances of narcotic sales have been identified and prevented in recent times. I would like to inform you that employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted another large-scale police operation in Tbilisi and the regions, resulting in the detention of 44 individuals on charges of selling, preparing to sell, attempting to sell, facilitating the sale, as well as importing, acquiring, and possessing particularly large quantities of narcotic substances. A significant amount of various types of narcotics in particularly large quantities was seized. The detained individuals include both Georgian and foreign citizens.
Based on court orders, law enforcement conducted multiple covert investigative actions. It has been established that the detained drug traffickers systematically sold narcotic substances to citizens using various methods and channels.
Based on court orders, law enforcement carried out several controlled purchases of narcotic substances, with covert audio-video recordings of these transactions.
During searches of the detained individuals’ vehicles, personal belongings, and residences, as well as locations indicated by them, law enforcement seized particularly large quantities of various narcotic substances as evidence.
As a result of investigative actions, materials used for packaging narcotics, adhesive tapes, and electronic scales were seized. Additionally, a firearm was confiscated from one of the detained individuals. The investigation is being conducted under Articles 260, 260 (quarter), 19-260 (tertia), and 260 (tertia) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provide for penalties of up to 20 years or life imprisonment.
It is noteworthy that over the past two months, law enforcement has detained and brought to criminal responsibility 1,417 individuals on charges related to narcotic crimes, a significant portion of whom are drug traffickers,” Darakhvelidze stated.
MIA: Police have arrested another 44 individuals for drug-related offenses – a total of 1,417 people have been arrested on drug charges over the past two months
