Georgia arrests 44 linked to criminal underworld, six more charged in absentia

Georgian law enforcement authorities have arrested 44 individuals connected to the criminal underworld, with an additional six people charged in absentia, including one alleged “thief-in-law” residing abroad, the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze announced on Tuesday.

Darakhvelidze said that the arrests followed intensive, nationwide police operations carried out over the past 24 hours as part of Georgia’s ongoing campaign against organized crime. Investigations revealed that the suspects were involved in orchestrating “thieves’ disputes” and enforcing criminal decisions based on traditional “thieves’ rules.”

Authorities said the detained individuals were linked to prominent figures within Georgia’s criminal underworld, including Mamuka Shubitidze, a so-called, who allegedly profited from resolving financial and criminal disputes between citizens under the guise of “thieves’ law,” often threatening physical harm for non-compliance.

Investigators also found that suspects regularly supplied information to Shubitidze about potential targets in Tbilisi and the Kakheti region, facilitating extortion and material gain in the name of the criminal network.

Evidence seized during the operations included vehicles, firearms, ammunition, mobile phones, and computers, which authorities said were used to coordinate activities domestically and abroad.

The probe is being conducted under Georgia’s Criminal Code articles 181, 223a, 223c, and 223d, carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison.

“Ensuring national security and public order remains our top priority. We will continue actively combating organized crime to protect every citizen,” Darakhvelidze pledged.