As a result of police operation conducted in Tbilisi and the regions over the past 24 hours, 47 drug offenders have been arrested, said the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze at today`s briefing.

"The Ministry of Internal Affairs continues intensive police operations against the illegal circulation and distribution of drugs – I would like to inform the public on another major police operation conducted by law enforcement officers in Tbilisi and the regions over the past 24 hours, as a result of which 47 drug offenders have been arrested.

The majority of those arrested are charged with drug trafficking, while some face charges related to illegal purchase and storage of large quantities of narcotics, attempted and facilitated illegal trafficking.

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

The above-mentioned police operation was conducted by employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, together with the Prosecutor General`s Office, based on a judge`s ruling. Among the detainees are both Georgian and foreign citizens.

Evidence obtained as a result of intensive investigative actions conducted by law enforcement officers, including secret audio-video recordings made on the basis of a judge`s ruling, shows that the arrested drug dealers systematically sold narcotics to citizens using various methods and tools.

During the personal search and search activities held in detainees` vehicles and residential homes the police also seized a particularly large amount of narcotics as evidence from the places indicated by them, including: heroin, methadone, alpha PVP, suboxine, subotex, methamphetamine, hashish, opium, marijuana and cannabis.

The investigation is underway under Articles 260, 260 (3) and 260 (4) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

I would like to express my special gratitude to all law enforcement officers who, involved in the fight against drug crime, who perform their duties with dignity on the daily basis, often at the risk of their own lives. Our declared policy in the fight against drugs is clear and solid – all those who endanger the lives and health of our citizens, especially young ones, will be punished to the fullest extent of the law", - said Aleksandre Darakhvelidze.