Three arrested as Georgian police seize 14kg of marijuana

Georgia's Central Criminal Police Department has arrested three people on charges of illegally acquiring, possessing and facilitating the distribution of particularly large quantities of narcotics, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

The suspects were involved in organised drug distribution schemes, using social media platforms and messaging applications to arrange the sale of narcotics, the MIA of Georgia said on Friday. Investigators said the drugs were hidden at pre-arranged locations for later collection by buyers.

During searches of the suspects' homes and other locations, police seized large quantities of drugs prepared for distribution, including nearly 14kg of dried marijuana, almost 1kg of hashish, close to 1kg of a new psychoactive substance and methadone.

The ministry said one of the suspects was identified after officers intercepted and replaced a parcel addressed to the individual, leading to the seizure of a large quantity of narcotics as evidence.

Police also recovered packaging materials allegedly used to prepare the drugs for distribution.

If convicted, the suspects face up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.