Ministry of Internal Affairs continues its fight against drug-related crime within the frames of which in December of the current year, as a result of complex operative and investigative activities, the officers of the Central Criminal Police Department, together with Special Tasks Department - detained 9 individuals, while Adjara Police Department detained 2 and Tbilisi Police Department took under arrest another individual for drug-related crime.

The officers of the Central Criminal Police Department detained the following persons: I.J, (DoB 1984), S.Sh. (DoB 1967), K.Q. (DoB 1975), Citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan - R.M. (DoB 1998), R.G. (DoB 1985), N.A. (DoB1973), and R.Z. (DoB 1984); The citizen of the Republic of Turkey, G.G. (DoB 1974) and A.K. (DoB1971).

In addition to the persons listed, G.K., (DoB 2000) was detained by Gldani-Nadzaladevi Police Division under Tbilisi Police Department for drug-related crime, while Adjara Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained Z.B. (DoB 1980) and M.G. (DoB 1986).

The mentioned persons are accused of illegal purchase and keeping of drugs in especially large quantities, smuggling on the territory of Georgia and the attempted drug dealing.

Law enforcement officers seized more than 5 kilograms of heroin and 2 kilograms of cocaine only this month.

On December 21, 2021, the customs officers of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance and the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested a Turkish citizen at the Tbilisi International Airport as a result of jointly held operation. As a result of search activities held to his luggage and hand luggage, 2 kilograms of cocaine was detected. The accused tried to bring drugs to Georgia through transit flight.

In addition to the mentioned, on December 15, during the personal search and search activities held in residential apartment of a person detained in Tbilisi, law enforcement officers seized 1 kilogram and 600 grams of “heroin”. On December 16, in Lagodekhi municipality, during a personal search of one of the accused persons, 2 kilogram and 200 grams of “heroin” drugs was seized.

As a result of complex measures, law enforcement officers seized a total of 5 kilograms and 500 grams of heroin, 2 kilograms of cocaine, 60 packages of alpha-PVP, 77 buprenorphine-containing suboxin and various pills only in December.

Elimination of drug-related crime and pursuing a strict policy towards drug dealers remains a priority for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is notable, that in the last 5 years, we have arrested the biggest number of drug dealers this year. Now we would like to summarize the past year and introduce you to the statistics on drug-related crime throughout Georgia in 2021.

As of December 22 of the current year, a total of 136 drug dealers have been arrested, up to 19 kilograms of heroin, 4 kilograms of cocaine, 5,000 pills of Subutex, 3 kilograms of alpha-PVP, 26 kilograms of bio drug and other drug substances have been seized.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has also worked on legislative changes against drug-related crime.

Punishment of drug dealers has been significantly tightened.

As a result of the amendments, the minimum sentence for selling drugs was defined 10 years in prison, while the maximum limit was set at 20 years or lifetime imprisonment.

Legislative changes also affected the illicit sale of psychotropic substances and separated them from the illicit manufacture, production, acquisition and storage charges.