Russian citizen arrested in Georgia’s Black Sea city of Batumi on drug trafficking charges

Police in Georgia have detained a Russian national accused of illegal possession and facilitation of distribution of a large quantity of narcotics, the Interior Ministry announced on Sunday.

The Ministry added officers from the Central Criminal Police Department’s Adjara division carried out a special operation that led to the arrest of the 25-year-old suspect in the country’s Black Sea resort city of Batumi.

During a search of the suspect’s home and personal belongings, police seized 1,347 grams of dried marijuana prepared for sale. Investigators also found packaging materials, adhesive tape and an electronic scale allegedly used for drug distribution.

The crime is punishable by 12 to 17 years in prison.

An investigation is ongoing to identify possible accomplices and the source of the narcotics.