Two foreign citizens arrested in Georgia after police seize drugs worth ₾6 mln

Two foreign nationals have been arrested in Rustavi on drug-related charges after police seized up to 33 kilograms of hashish with an estimated black-market value of GEL 6 million, Central Criminal Police Department Director Davit Kiknadze said.

Police found the drugs during a search of one of the suspects' apartments. Part of the hashish had allegedly been concealed inside car tyres at the same property.

Investigators also seized particularly large quantities of cocaine, heroin and methadone from another apartment and a hotel room used by the suspects, the MIA press office said on Tuesday.

The investigation found that the two suspects had allegedly acted together and planned to distribute the drugs using various methods, but police intervened before they could carry out the alleged operation.

Kiknadze said police had arrested a further 24 people in drug-related operations across Tbilisi and other regions in recent days, including 15 people allegedly involved in drug distribution.

Authorities seized various drugs prepared for distribution, materials used for packaging drugs and cash. Police also discovered specially equipped greenhouses allegedly used for the illegal cultivation of large quantities of narcotics.

Depending on the charge, the offences carry sentences of up to 20 years or life imprisonment.