Georgian police arrest 97 in massive organised crime crackdown

Georgian law enforcement agencies have detained 97 individuals linked to organized crime in Tbilisi and across the regions over the past 48 hours, including 81 suspects involved in drug dealing and large-scale narcotics schemes, Interior Minister Geka Geladze announced.

Geladze said Georgia’s law enforcement bodies remain committed to an uncompromising fight against organized crime, corruption, drug trafficking, and any criminal activity that could undermine the country’s statehood, harm society, or threaten future generations.

The Minister described the operation as large-scale and highly successful, thanking every police officer involved in the raids.

According to Geladze, authorities seized an especially large quantity of various narcotics during the arrests. The detainees include both Georgian and foreign nationals.

“As you know, the modern Georgian state and all of its law enforcement agencies have declared an uncompromising fight against organised crime, corruption, drug-related offenses, or any other type of crime that could in any way undermine Georgian statehood, harm Georgian society, or create problems for our future generations”, he said.

“The individuals arrested for drug distribution were selling narcotics to citizens through various methods and means. These included the use of internet applications, as well as so-called hand-to-hand transactions and the placement of drugs in specific locations. In order to identify drug dealers, our officers repeatedly carried out controlled drug purchases and covert audio and video recordings of these transactions, which confirm the criminal activities of the detainees”, he said.

During searches of suspects’ persons, vehicles, and residences, as well as investigative experiments based on information provided by detainees, officers seized large amounts of drugs prepared for distribution. Confiscated substances included heroin, cocaine, alpha-PVP, Suboxone, buprenorphine, and others. Authorities also recovered materials used for packaging and cultivation, along with cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

Geladze highlighted the arrest of a Latvian citizen at Tbilisi International Airport, who was allegedly attempting to bring more than half a kilogram of cocaine into Georgia.

In a separate development, police discovered a drug laboratory in a residential apartment in Tbilisi, where narcotics were being produced illegally. Two Iranian citizens were detained, and nearly half a kilogram of methamphetamine was seized.

In parallel operations, police also detained 16 additional suspects. Searches of their homes, auxiliary premises, and vehicles led to the seizure of dozens of firearms, automatic weapons, and hand grenades.

The offences are punishable by up to 20 years or life imprisonment.

“Once again, we categorically warn all potential criminals not to become part of our target groups, because for us there is no argument that will save a criminal from punishment. To the public, on behalf of the Government of Georgia and all law enforcement agencies, we promise that our country will be among the most successful in the world in terms of fighting crime”, the Minister said.