Georgia detains nine on drug trafficking charges

Georgian police have arrested nine people on suspicion of drug-related offences, the Interior Ministry has said.

The arrests were carried out at different times by officers from the Central Criminal Police Department, as well as police units in Adjara, Imereti and Shida Kartli. Those detained include both Georgian and foreign nationals, the MIA press office said on Tuesday.

Police said large and especially large quantities of drugs were seized during searches of suspects, their vehicles and homes, as well as from locations identified during investigative experiments. The substances reportedly included alpha-PVP, methadone, dried marijuana and cannabis plants.

Investigators also confiscated materials allegedly used for packaging drugs, along with cash believed to have been obtained through drug sales.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 260 and 260¹ of Georgia’s Criminal Code. If convicted, the suspects face penalties of up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.