Following a police operation, officers from the Central Criminal Police Department of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) have detained five individuals on suspicion of drug-related offences.

According to the Ministry, those arrested are accused of illicitly possessing and storing a substantial quantity of narcotics, as well as facilitating their sale. The suspects include both Georgian nationals and foreigners.

“During searches of the personal and residential premises of the accused, as well as through investigative operations, law enforcement officers recovered a considerable quantity of narcotics intended for sale, from locations identified by the suspects. The recovered substances include methadone, 112 pills containing buprenorphine, and marijuana,” the statement reads.

The Ministry reported that officers replaced a parcel sent to them to expose the suspects, and seized a significant quantity of drugs as evidence. The investigative actions confirmed the criminal involvement of those detained.

The investigation is ongoing under Articles 260, 260-Quarter, and 19-260 of the Criminal Code, which prescribe penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment or life imprisonment.