Nine foreign nationals arrested over attempted illegal border crossing into Turkey

Georgian border police have arrested nine foreign nationals on suspicion of attempting to cross illegally into Turkey as a group, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, officers from the Operational-Investigative Department of the Border Police detained the suspects following operational and investigative measures.

Investigators alleged the group attempted to leave Georgia by bypassing an official border crossing and crossing the state border illegally in the Sarpi border sector.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment.