Foreign national arrested in Tbilisi on charge of large-scale drug offences

Police in Tbilisi have arrested a foreign national on suspicion of illegally purchasing, possessing and facilitating the distribution of a large quantity of narcotic substances, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Thursday.

The detainee, identified only as A.I. and born in 2007, was taken into custody following an operation and investigative actions carried out by officers from the Patrol Police Department of the capital’s Main Division.

According to the ministry, officers seized a significant amount of methadone packaged for sale during searches of the suspect’s person and temporary residence in Tbilisi. Materials allegedly used for packaging drugs were also recovered as evidence.

The offences are punishable by up to 20 years in prison or a life sentence under Articles 260 and 260-1 of Georgia’s Criminal Code.