The Ministry of Interior Affairs announced today that its law enforcement officers had detained 3 “criminal authorities” for group extortion of money in Imereti region.

Two of the individuals were related to two different “criminal underworld” figures. Arrested persons had criminal history.

According to the agency, the investigation had established the group had demanded USD 1,000 from an individual due to a prior disagreement and threatened the victim with physical harm and death.

Police arrested the 3 perpetrators at their homes in the region, with the crime punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment.