Interior Ministry detains 27 over mafia links in major operation; six charged in absentia, including ‘thief-in-law’

Officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) have detained 27 individuals connected to the so-called “Thieves’ World” over the past 24 hours. A further six individuals face charges, including a foreign-based “Thief-in-Law”, according to a statement released by the Ministry.

“Officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue their active, unrelenting fight against all categories of crime. One of the top priorities of the Ministry’s operations remains combating organised crime, including offences linked to the so-called ‘Thieves’ World’.

Following a large-scale police operation in this direction, officers from the Central Criminal Police Department, in cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, detained 27 individuals affiliated with the ‘Thieves’ World’ over the past 24 hours. Charges are being brought against six more individuals, some currently in penitentiary facilities and others in absentia, including one ‘Thief-in-Law’ residing abroad.

Intensive covert investigative actions conducted by law enforcement officers under judicial warrants established that the defendants were receiving instructions from, and acting on the orders of, Mamuka Chkhaberidze, a foreign-based ‘Thief-in-Law’. They held regular communications to convene criminal tribunals, so-called ‘Thieves’ Arbitrations’, with verdicts delivered in line with underworld custom.

Furthermore, it was established that the defendants adjudicated financial disputes between third parties, ordering one party to pay sums of money either to the opposing party or for their own personal gain. In cases where specified deadlines were missed, they threatened victims with physical violence and death.

During searches of the defendants’ persons and residences, police seized computer equipment and mobile phones used to communicate with one another and with the foreign-based ‘Thief-in-Law’. Police investigative measures also led to the recovery of various types of firearms and ammunition.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 223¹, 223³, 223⁴, and 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry penalties of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.

Notably, anti-organised crime operations conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs this year have delivered significant results.

Since January 1, law enforcement agencies have detained and criminally prosecuted 343 individuals connected to the ‘Thieves’ World’, including eight ‘Thieves-in-Law’,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted in its statement.