Three arrested in Georgia for attempting to smuggle migrants into Turkey

Georgia’s Border Police, in coordination with the Central Criminal Police Department, have arrested three individuals — one Georgian citizen and two foreign nationals — for attempting to illegally smuggle a migrant across the state border, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on July 29.

The suspects were identified as Georgian national J.E., born in 1979, and foreign nationals N.M., born in 1989, and V.I., born in 1999. They were apprehended for organizing an attempt to smuggle a migrant hidden in a truck through the Sarpi border crossing into Turkey.

The ministry stated that the group planned the illegal border crossing in exchange for a large sum of money.

Authorities conducted a covert operation that included a controlled delivery of payment under court authorization, along with hidden audio and video recordings of the transaction. During the suspects' arrest, a search of their persons and vehicle led to the seizure of the money as evidence.

The suspects face charges under Article 18-344¹, Part 3, Subparagraph (a) of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which pertains to the preparation of illegal border crossing by an organized group and carries a prison sentence of 8 to 15 years.