Four foreign citizens arrested in Tbilisi on major drug trafficking charges

Officers of the Tbilisi Main Division of Georgia's Patrol Police Department have arrested four foreign nationals on charges related to the illegal purchase and possession of particularly large quantities of narcotic substances, as well as facilitating their distribution.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs on Friday said the law enforcement officers had seized substantial quantities of various narcotic drugs prepared for sale during searches of the suspects, their residences and vehicles in Tbilisi. Additional evidence was recovered from multiple locations.

The confiscated substances include methadone, alpha-PVP, thebaine, codeine, morphine and dried marijuana.

Police also seized materials allegedly used for packaging and distributing narcotics.

The offenses carry penalties of up to 20 years' imprisonment or life imprisonment, according to the ministry.