Foreign national arrested in Georgia over alleged smuggling of nearly 12 kg of marijuana

Georgian authorities have arrested a foreign national on suspicion of illegally importing nearly 12 kilograms of marijuana into the country, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

The arrest was carried out in a joint operation by officers from the ministry’s Central Criminal Police Department and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service under the Ministry of Finance.

According to the Interior Ministry, law enforcement officers discovered two packages containing nearly 12 kilograms of marijuana during a detailed inspection of a truck driven by the suspect at the Lagodekhi border crossing.

The drugs were found in a specially constructed hidden compartment inside the vehicle’s cabin and seized as evidence.

The suspect faces charges of illegal acquisition, possession and importation of a particularly large quantity of narcotic drugs.

An investigation is underway under Articles 260 and 262 of Georgia’s Criminal Code. If convicted, the suspect could face up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.