Five arrested in Georgia for ties to criminal underworld

Five individuals with alleged links to criminal underworld have been arrested in a coordinated operation by the Guria Police Department and the Ozurgeti District Prosecutor’s Office in western Georgia. The arrests took place in the cities of Tbilisi, Ozurgeti, and Lanchkhuti, following a court ruling.

The suspects include K.V., born in 1971, who has a history of multiple convictions, and G.K. and T.F., both born in 1974, who are accused of supporting the activities of the criminal underworld. Another suspect, M.G., born in 1981, has been charged with attempting to join the criminal network, while V.G., born in 1968, is also among those detained.

The charges against the group carry potential prison sentences of up to 10 years.

According to authorities, the arrests followed an investigation into a financial dispute between V.G. and M.G. over a construction deal. Seeking to resolve the matter, the defendants allegedly turned to criminal underworld, including T.F., G.K., and K.V.

Investigators claim the dispute was settled in line with criminal traditions, with the parties agreeing that M.G. would pay 15,000 GEL to V.G. within a month. Half of this sum is said to have been distributed among the criminal figures who mediated the conflict.

During the raids on the suspects’ properties, police seized computer equipment, suspected narcotics, and mobile phones believed to have been used for communication among the group.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed the investigation is being carried out under several articles of the Georgian Criminal Code, including those relating to organised crime.