The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has arrested 44 people on drug-related charges following police operations conducted in Tbilisi and the regions. Deputy Interior Minister Alexandre Darakhvelidze announced this at a briefing.

According to him, those arrested include both Georgian and foreign nationals.

“The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues its uncompromising fight against the illegal circulation and distribution of narcotics. As a result of measures carried out by law enforcement, numerous instances of drug trafficking have been identified and prevented in recent times. I can report that Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel have conducted another large-scale police operation in Tbilisi and the regions, resulting in the arrest of 44 individuals on charges of drug trafficking, preparation for trafficking, attempted trafficking, facilitating trafficking, as well as importing and purchasing-storing particularly large quantities of narcotics in Georgia. Especially large quantities of various types of narcotics have been seized. Among those arrested are both Georgian and foreign nationals.

Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel, based on court orders, carried out numerous covert investigative operations. It has been established that the arrested drug dealers were systematically selling narcotics to citizens through various methods and means. Law enforcement officers, based on court orders, repeatedly conducted controlled purchases of narcotics and covert audio-video recordings of these purchases. During searches of the arrestees’ vehicles, personal belongings, and residential homes, as well as from locations they indicated, police seized particularly large quantities of various types of narcotics as evidence.

As a result of investigative operations, materials necessary for packaging narcotics, adhesive tapes, and electronic scales have been seized. Meanwhile, a firearm was confiscated from one of the arrestees. The investigation is proceeding under articles 260, 260 quarter, 19-260 third, and 260 third of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which envisages penalties of up to 20 years or life imprisonment.

It should be noted that over the past two months, law enforcement has arrested and brought criminal charges against 1,417 individuals on drug-related offences, a significant portion of whom are drug dealers,” Darakhvelidze declared.