Three foreign nationals arrested in Georgia over alleged large-scale drug smuggling

Georgian authorities on Thursday said they had foiled an attempt to illegally import a particularly large quantity of narcotics into the country, following a joint operation at major border entry points.

The operation was conducted by officers from the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service under the Ministry of Finance.

The Ministry said three foreign nationals - citizens of Ukraine, Turkey and the United States - were detained on drug-related charges at Tbilisi International Airport and at the Sarpi border crossing on Georgia’s frontier with Turkey.

Law enforcement officials said that searches of the suspects and their luggage uncovered various narcotic and psychotropic substances. Investigators reported seizing up to 300 grams of cocaine, as well as 350 tablets containing methadone and other psychotropic substances. The substances have been secured as evidence.

The offences carry penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment or life in prison if a court finds the accused guilty.