Twelve arrested in Georgia in anti-drug operation

Georgian police have arrested 12 people on charges including the illegal purchase and possession of particularly large quantities of narcotics, facilitating drug sales and unlawfully cultivating narcotic plants, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

Those detained include previously convicted individuals as well as both Georgian and foreign citizens.

The operation was carried out by officers from the Central Criminal Police Department of Georgia following what authorities described as intensive investigative measures.

Police said searches of suspects’ homes, personal belongings and locations identified during investigative experiments led to the seizure of large quantities of drugs and psychotropic substances prepared for sale.

The substances confiscated reportedly included up to one kilogram of mephedrone, ketamine, MDMA, methadone, alpha-PVP, psilocybin mushrooms, morphine-containing pills, pregabalin, hashish, tetrahydrocannabinol and marijuana.

Authorities also said some suspects were identified after police intercepted and replaced parcels allegedly sent in their names containing large quantities of narcotics.

Investigators further discovered specially arranged greenhouses where cannabis was allegedly being illegally cultivated on a large scale.

Police additionally seized materials allegedly used for packaging and cultivating narcotic substances.

The charges carry penalties of up to 20 years or life imprisonment.