Georgia seizes 157kg of heroin in one of largest drug busts this year

Georgian authorities on Wednesday said they had intercepted 157 kilograms of heroin in one of the largest drug smuggling cases uncovered this year.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the seizure was made on 30 December during a joint operation by the Central Criminal Police and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service. The drugs, with an estimated street value of around 50 million lari, were discovered hidden inside a specially constructed compartment in a truck trailer.

Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said the vehicle had entered Georgia from a neighbouring country via the Red Bridge border crossing. The heroin was concealed among marble tiles in an apparent attempt to evade detection.

An Iranian citizen has been arrested on charges of illegally importing and possessing a particularly large quantity of narcotics. Investigators said further operational and investigative measures are under way to identify others potentially involved in the smuggling operation.

The case is being investigated under Articles 260 and 262 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which carry penalties of up to 20 years’ imprisonment or life in prison.

Darakhvelidze said the authorities were continuing round-the-clock efforts to combat drug trafficking, with a particular focus on identifying and prosecuting drug dealers.

He added that over the past seven months, police had prevented dozens of drug smuggling attempts, seizing several hundred kilograms of narcotics. During that period, more than 5,000 people have been arrested or charged in connection with drug-related offences, including nearly 2,000 accused of drug distribution.