Georgia’s Interior Ministry reports ‘record’ crime detection rate in 2025

Georgia’s Interior Ministry on Friday said the nationwide crime detection rate had reached an “unprecedented level” in 2025, with police solving 70% of all registered crimes during the year.

The Ministry claimed the high clearance rate was the result of intensified operational and investigative measures, particularly against organised crime and drug-related offences.

The ministry reported a significant increase in the detection of drug crimes, nearly doubling year-on-year. In 2025, a total of 10,475 drug-related crimes were registered - an increase of 4,877 cases, or 87.1%, compared with 2024. Law enforcement launched criminal proceedings against 7,119 individuals for drug offences, including 2,265 people involved in drug distribution. Of those, 471 were formally charged with drug trafficking.

As a result of the expanded crackdown on organised crime, prosecutions also increased for offences linked to the so-called “criminal underworld”. Criminal proceedings were initiated against 228 people for membership in, support of, or appeals to the “thieves’ world”, including 15 individuals charged as “thieves-in-law”.

Despite the overall rise in registered crimes - 54,134 cases in total, up 8.32% year-on-year - the ministry attributed this growth primarily to increased detection of drug offences. At the same time, several categories of serious crime declined.

The number of intentional murders fell by 11 cases, while crimes against health decreased by 517. Property crimes also showed a downward trend, including reductions in apartment burglaries (-43), robberies (-22), fraud (-333), and extortion (-37). Cybercrime cases fell by 141, while crimes against sexual freedom and inviolability decreased by 134. A decline was also recorded in human trafficking cases.

The ministry highlighted intensified efforts against illegal migration. In 2025, 1,311 foreign nationals were deported from Georgia, compared with 363 in 2024 - a 261% increase. The figure exceeded the total number of deportations carried out between 2019 and 2024 combined.

Meanwhile, the number of registered vehicles in Georgia continued to grow. By the end of 2025, the national vehicle fleet reached 2,004,678, up by 134,040 vehicles compared with the previous year.

In response, the Interior Ministry said it had further expanded road safety measures. As of 2025, 8,886 surveillance cameras are operational nationwide, while average-speed control sections increased to 658, covering 2,327 kilometres of road.

The ministry said road safety remained a key priority of the 112 Public Safety Management Centre, which conducts 24-hour video monitoring across the country to protect public safety and lives, the body added.