Deputy Interior Minister: 298 kg of heroin seized in major drug bust

Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Interior Minister, on Wednesday said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs seized 298 kilograms of heroin that had been secretly hidden in containers with an estimated value of approximately GEL 85 million (USD 31,253,803.00 million) on the so-called black market.

“We would like to inform the public about an unprecedented case of international drug trafficking uncovered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. A Georgian citizen has been arrested on charges of illegal acquisition and possession of a particularly large quantity of narcotic substances, as well as the illegal import of narcotic substances into Georgia”, Darakhvelidze said.

The investigation revealed that the cargo truck, which was officially documented as being loaded with fire-resistant bricks, entered Georgia from the Republic of Armenia through the “Guguti” customs checkpoint and was intended to transit through Batumi to Europe.

“During a detailed inspection of the truck's trailer at the customs clearance zone, law enforcement officers discovered 600 plastic containers designed to resemble bricks. Inside the containers, 298 kilograms of the narcotic substance heroin were secretly concealed. This unprecedented case of international drug trafficking was uncovered through joint operational and investigative actions carried out by the Central Criminal Police Department, the Patrol Police Department, the General Prosecutor’s Office, and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance”, he continued.

Law enforcement agencies are actively continuing complex investigative efforts to identify and prosecute other individuals involved in this drug trafficking scheme.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 260 and 262 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

The crime is punishable by up to 20 years or life imprisonment.