The relevant units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue to fight against drug-related crimes on a daily basis. David Kiknadze, Director of the Central Criminal Police Department, said this at today’s briefing.

“As a result of operational measures and investigative actions carried out throughout the country, 84 people have been arrested on charges of drug-related crimes and especially large amount of various types of narcotic and psychotropic substances, as well as firearms and ammunition, have been seized.

Among the detainees are both Georgian and foreign citizens.

Based on the judge’s ruling, the police conducted a number of undercover investigative actions in order to detect drug-related crimes and expose the individuals involved, which established that the arrested drug dealers were systematically provided citizens with drugs using various methods.

Law enforcement officers also conducted several undercover purchases of drugs and secretly made audio-video recordings of the process.

During the personal searches held to detainees, and other search activities held in residential homes and vehicles, as well as from places indicated by them, various types of drugs were seized as evidence, including: heroin, cocaine, methadone, buprenorphine, marijuana, etc. As a result of the investigative actions, materials necessary for packaging drugs and cash allegedly received as a result of drug sales were also seized. Within the framework of the above-mentioned police measure, the fact of illegal import of especially large amount of narcotic drugs into the country was also foiled. Employees of the Central Criminal Police Department and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance detained a citizen of Ukraine at Tbilisi International Airport, As a result of the personal search especially large amount of the narcotic drug “buprenorphine” was seized - more than 2,500 pills.

The investigation is underway under Articles 260, 260-3, 260-4, 261, 262, 265 -1 and 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, envisioning the up to 20 years or life imprisonment.

The fight against drug-related crime remains one of the main priorities of the Ministry. Police units will take tough measures as envisioned by law against individuals involved in this category of crimes”, - said David Kiknadze.