The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) continues intensive police operations against the illegal circulation and distribution of narcotics, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze announced at a briefing today.

“I wish to inform the public about yet another major police operation conducted by law enforcement over the past 24 hours in Tbilisi and the regions, resulting in the arrest of 47 drug offenders.

The vast majority of those detained are charged with drug trafficking, whilst others face charges of illegal acquisition and possession of particularly large quantities of narcotics, attempted illegal distribution, and aiding and abetting. These offences carry sentences of up to 20 years’ imprisonment or life imprisonment,” Aleksandre Darakhvelidze noted.

According to him, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, together with the Prosecutor General’s Office,carried out the police operation based on a court order.

“Those arrested include both Georgian and foreign nationals. Evidence obtained through intensive investigative actions by law enforcement, including covert audio and video recordings authorised by court order, establishes that the detained drug dealers systematically sold narcotics to citizens through various methods and channels.

During searches of the detainees’ vehicles, personal effects, and residences, as well as locations they identified, police seized particularly large quantities of narcotics as evidence, including heroin, methadone, alpha-PVP, Suboxone, Subutex, methamphetamine, hashish, opium, marijuana, and cannabis plants,” Aleksandre Darakhvelidze stated.

The investigation is proceeding under Articles 260, 260c, and 260d of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

“I wish to extend particular thanks to all those law enforcement officers who daily, often at the risk of their own lives, honourably fulfil their duties in the fight against drug-related crime. Our declared policy regarding the fight against narcotics is clear and unwavering: anyone who endangers the lives and health of our citizens, especially young people, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Aleksandre Darakhvelidze emphasised.