An event dedicated to the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking was held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, attended by senior officials, representatives from various units, Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze, and Head of the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance Mikheil Maghlakelidze.

During his speech at the event, Minister of Internal Affairs Gela Geladze emphasised effective strategies for combating drug-related crime.

According to the Ministry, Minister Geladze highlighted the government’s firm stance on this issue, reaffirming that the relentless fight against drug crime remains one of the Ministry’s top priorities.

He expressed gratitude to the Ministry’s personnel for their dedicated and fruitful work.

The Minister noted that combating drug addiction and related crimes is a global challenge, and Georgia is no exception.

“The distribution and use of narcotic drugs threaten national security, public health, and the well-being of every citizen. Therefore, the fight against drug crime is among the most critical priorities of our government. This is reflected in recent legislative amendments adopted by the Parliament of Georgia, which have significantly increased penalties for drug trafficking. Consequently, the efforts of law enforcement units to prevent and suppress drug crimes have become more effective,” Geladze stated.

He also highlighted a new legislative package initiated yesterday by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, which involves prohibiting private entities from conducting substitution therapy programs, restricting the import of psychotropic medications by private companies, and imposing strict controls on psychotropic prescriptions.

“This initiative will play a vital role in the ongoing fight against drug addiction,” Geladze stated.

In his speech, the Minister reaffirmed that the Ministry, with its full staff, continues to intensively combat the illegal circulation and distribution of drugs and to enforce strict legal measures against those accused of drug offences.

During the event, David Kiknadze, Director of the Central Criminal Police Department, presented a report on drug crime statistics for the current year. He highlighted recent special operations conducted by law enforcement and assured that police will continue to actively implement the strict measures authorized by law to combat drug crimes in the future.