Employees of the Central Criminal Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tbilisi, Adjara, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Kakheti and Imereti Police Departments, together with the General Prosecutor’s Office, arrested 28 people on charges of drug crimes, including 16 drug dealers.

Among the arrested are both Georgian and foreign citizens.

Various types of large and particularly large amounts of narcotic drugs were seized by the law enforcement officers as evidence. On the basis of the court decision, the police made control purchases of drugs from persons arrested on charges of illegal selling of drugs several times and secretly audio-video recorded these purchases.

The following persons were detained for a large and especially large amount of narcotic drugs, as well as illegal selling, attempted selling, and preparation of the narcotic drug “Marijuana”: M.G. (DoB 1980), G.B. (DoB 2005), S.T. (DoB 2002), G.K. (DoB 1996), B.S. (DoB 2004), G.O. (DoB 2005). Herewith, persons convicted in the past were also detained: M.G. (DoB 2001) and A.S. (DoB 2003).

Foreign citizens: E.T. (DoB 1998), D.M. (DoB 1998), A.P. (DoB 1997), K.M. (DoB 1998), S.G. (DoB 1995), I.K. (DoB 1999), M.M. (DoB 1998), O.A. (DoB 2005).

The following persons were exposed on the facts of illegal purchase and storage of large and especially large quantities of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and narcotic drug “Marijuana”, illegal import into Georgia, illegal planting and cultivation of plants containing narcotic drugs: Ch.I. (DoB 1987), V.O. (DoB 1981), T.M. (DoB 2002), I.K. (DoB 1985), L.Sh. (DoB 1979), L.A. (DoB 1999), G.A. (DoB 1958) and convicted in the past - P.Ch. (DoB 1975).

Foreign citizens: K.M. (DoB 2002). Herewith, persons convicted in the past were also detained: Gh.A. (DoB 1994), S.S. (DoB 1991) and A.D. (DoB 1992).

The committed crimes envision up to 20 years or life imprisonment.

During the personal search and search conducted in residential houses of the persons arrested on charges of drug crimes, the law enforcement officers also seized a large amount of narcotics, including: Cocaine, Heroine, Alpha PvP, Methadone, MDMA, Mephedrone, Lysergide, Ketamine, Buprenorphine, Subotex, Ecstasy, Methamphetamine, Marijuana and the narcotic plant Cannabis were taken as evidence.

The police seized the cash and electronic scales from the defendants as evidence. Also, weapons were seized as evidence from three persons arrested persons.

The investigation is being conducted under articles 260, 261, 262, 265, 18-260, 19-260, 273 and 19-273 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.