Three Belarusian citizens arrested in Batumi for large-scale drug offences

Officers from the Adjara Police Department of Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs have arrested three Belarusian citizens on charges of purchasing, storing, and facilitating the distribution of a large quantity of illegal drugs, the body announced on Thursday.

The suspects - identified only as E.L. and V.Z., both born in 2000, and G.K., born in 2001 - were detained in Batumi, western Georgia, following a series of operational and investigative actions carried out by the Khelvachauri District Division.

During searches of the suspects’ temporary residence and personal belongings, law enforcement officials seized a significant quantity of marijuana packaged for sale, along with equipment allegedly used for drug packaging and cultivation.

Further investigation led to the discovery of additional marijuana stashes at 17 different locations across Batumi and the Khelvachauri Municipality, the MIA added.  Photographs of these sites were reportedly found on one of the detainees’ mobile phones.

Offences carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years or life imprisonment.