Georgian police seize 31 illegal firearms, arrest 39 in nationwide operations, Deputy Interior Minister

Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, on Friday said the law enforcement officers had confiscated 31 illegal firearms and arrested 39 individuals during nationwide police and preventive operations.

“Officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue to combat crime round the clock through targeted police and preventive measures,” Darakhvelidze said.

He added that over the past two days, police conducted operations across Tbilisi and all regions of Georgia, seizing firearms, ammunition, and a large quantity of various narcotics. Searches of suspects’ residences, auxiliary premises, and vehicles yielded handguns, automatic weapons, grenades, magazines, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and narcotics.

Investigations are ongoing under Articles 236, 260, and 273 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provide for up to seven years of imprisonment.

Darakhvelidze also noted that last year, the crime detection rate reached an unprecedented 70%, with a notable reduction in offenses against life and health. He stressed that the results reflected the effectiveness of the Ministry’s continuous preventive and law enforcement measures.

“Our goal remains to ensure a safe environment for the public, and preventive police operations will continue actively in this direction,” he added.