Five foreign nationals arrested in Kvemo Kartli following major narcotics bust

Five foreign nationals have been arrested on drug offence charges following a joint police operation conducted by officers from the Kvemo Kartli Police Department and the Patrol Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

According to the Ministry, the suspects face charges relating to the illegal purchase, storage, trafficking, and facilitation of the sale of commercial quantities of controlled substances.

“Following searches of the suspects’ persons, temporary residences, and locations disclosed during questioning, law enforcement officers seized particularly large quantities of various narcotics packaged and prepared for distribution as material evidence, including cocaine, hashish, and opium,” the Ministry statement reads.

Officers also confiscated packaging materials intended for drug distribution, alongside cash suspected to be proceeds from narcotics sales.

Law enforcement officers conducted a covert test purchase from one of the suspects acting under a judicial warrant, capturing the operation on audio and video.

An investigation is underway under Articles 260, 260³, (260 tertia), and 260⁴ (260 quarta) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry penalties of up to 20 years or life imprisonment,” the statement concluded.