Georgian police arrest 27 over ties to criminal underworld, charges filed against six more, including one ‘thief-in-law’

Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Tuesday reported that its officers have arrested 27 individuals linked to the country’s criminal underworld, while charges will be brought against six others, including one alleged “thief-in-law” currently abroad.

The operation was carried out over the past 24 hours by the Central Criminal Police Department in cooperation with the Prosecutor General’s Office as part of an ongoing crackdown on organised crime.

Investigators allege that the suspects acted under the instructions of “thief-in-law” Mamuka Chkhaberidze, who is believed to be outside Georgia.

The Ministry said that the group maintained regular contact and organised so-called “criminal dispute resolutions”, during which decisions were made in accordance with criminal traditions.

Authorities further allege that the suspects mediated financial disputes between parties, compelling one side to pay money to the other party and, in some cases, to members of the group themselves.

According to investigators, those who failed to comply within the prescribed deadlines were threatened with violence or death.

Searches of the suspects’ homes and personal property resulted in the seizure of computers and mobile phones allegedly used to communicate with one another and with the alleged “thief-in-law” abroad. Police also confiscated firearms and ammunition as part of the investigation.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 223¹, 223³, 223⁴, and 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. If convicted, the suspects face up to 15 years in prison.

The Interior Ministry said that its anti-organised crime operations have yielded significant results this year. Since January 1, law enforcement authorities have arrested and prosecuted 343 individuals linked to the criminal underworld, including eight “thieves-in-law”.