Five arrested in Georgia for large-scale drug crimes

Officers from the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia have arrested five individuals on drug-related charges following a police operation, the ministry said Friday.

The suspects have been accused of illegally purchasing, possessing, and facilitating the distribution of particularly large quantities of narcotic substances. Those detained include both Georgian and foreign citizens.

Law enforcement officers seized large quantities of drugs prepared for sale during searches of the suspects’ homes and personal belongings, as well as during investigative experiments. The substances confiscated include methadone, 112 tablets containing buprenorphine, and marijuana, police said.

Investigators also identified suspects through a controlled operation in which police replaced a parcel addressed to them, allowing officers to seize a particularly large amount of narcotics as evidence.

Authorities said investigative actions confirmed the suspects’ alleged criminal activities.

The crimes carry penalties of up to 20 years or life imprisonment.