Georgian police seize over a kilogram of methadone in anti-drug operation

Georgian law enforcement authorities have seized a particularly large quantity of methadone during a coordinated overnight operation in Tbilisi and the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Wednesday.

Davit Kiknadze, the Director of the Central Criminal Police Department, said the police confiscated approximately 1.2 kilograms of the synthetic opioid, along with 67 individual packages and materials used for drug packaging.

Three individuals were arrested during the raid and are facing charges related to the illegal purchase, storage, and intent to distribute narcotics as part of an organized group. If convicted, the suspects could face up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.

“The investigation has established that the defendants were part of an organized group operating through social networks,” Kiknadze said. “They placed drugs in various hidden locations, photographed them, and sent the images along with coordinates and markings to potential buyers.”

The operation was carried out jointly by officers from the Central Criminal Police and the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Police Departments, in coordination with the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Kiknadze emphasized that the Ministry of Internal Affairs remained committed to combating drug-related crime.

“We will continue our uncompromising fight against the illegal circulation and distribution of drugs throughout the country. All individuals involved will face strict legal consequences,” he said.