Georgian law enforcement destroy over 450kg of illegal drugs worth seven mln GEL

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has destroyed more than 450 kilograms of seized narcotic and psychotropic substances, with an estimated black market value exceeding seven  million GEL, the ministry announced on Friday. 

The operation was carried out by the Ministry’s Forensic and Forensic Department in cooperation with the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Health. The destruction process, which took place in a high-temperature incinerator, was conducted in line with modern environmental and legal standards, the body added. 

“In accordance with existing legislation, the process of drug destruction was conducted jointly by members of the Standing Commission, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and representatives of the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Protection,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Among the destroyed substances were:

379 kg of cannabis

2 kg of methadone
Over 4 kg of heroin
218 g of cocaine
261 g of alpha-PVP
95 g of ketamine
28 g of clephedrone
Over 700 g and 755 tablets of MDMA
928 methadone tablets
811 buprenorphine tablets
1,850 pregabalin tablets
256 tramadol tablets
402 codeine tablets
Various other psychotropic and new psychoactive substances

The ministry emphasized that such destruction operations were conducted regularly - once every three months. Until a final court verdict is issued, seized drugs are stored in secure, specially equipped facilities that meet international standards.

After court approval, the substances are transported under police escort to a secure facility, where they are incinerated using high-temperature furnaces designed to meet environmental regulations.