42 arrested in nationwide anti-drug operation in Georgia

The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on Friday announced that 42 individuals have been arrested across the country within the past 24 hours during a large-scale police operation targeting drug-related crimes.

According to officials, most of the detainees are accused of large-scale drug trafficking, while others face charges of illegal possession of significant quantities of narcotics.

Aleksadnre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, provided details of the operation during a press briefing.

“Drug offenders were arrested by police officers in cooperation with the Prosecutor General’s Office as a result of operational, investigative, and procedural actions carried out in Tbilisi and various regions. The detainees include both Georgian and foreign citizens”, the official said.

Evidence obtained through court-sanctioned covert investigative measures, including audio and video recordings, confirmed that the majority of suspects were directly involved in drug distribution schemes.

According to investigators, the perpetrators used internet applications to coordinate the placement of narcotics at designated locations and then informed potential buyers about the drop-off points. Authorities also determined that drugs were sold through other channels.

Law enforcement officers seized a large amount of narcotic substances intended for sale on the black market, including heroin, cocaine, alpha-PVP, buprenorphine, Suboxone, methadone, ketamine, mephedrone, MDMA, marijuana, and others.

The crimes carry penalties ranging from up to 20 years in prison to life imprisonment.