15 people arrested on drug charges in Georgia, large quantities of narcotics seized

Officers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia have arrested 15 individuals on drug-related charges in operations carried out at different times across Tbilisi, Adjara, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Imereti and Kvemo Kartli.

The Ministry said on Saturday those detained include Georgian and foreign citizens, as well as individuals previously convicted of crimes. They are accused of the illegal purchase and possession of large and especially large quantities of narcotic substances and facilitating their distribution.

Law enforcement officers seized significant quantities of drugs during searches of the suspects’ persons, homes and auxiliary premises, as well as during investigative experiments conducted at locations indicated by the detainees.

The seized substances include drugs prepared for distribution, such as dried marijuana, mephedrone, cocaine, alpha-PVP, thebaine, methadone and buprenorphine.

Police also confiscated materials used for packaging narcotics and money believed to have been obtained from drug sales.

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