The employees of the Central Criminal Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the departments of Tbilisi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Adjara, Imereti, and Shida Kartli, together with the General Prosecutor’s Office, arrested 22 individuals on charges of drug-related crimes as a result of recent operational measures and investigative actions.

According to the MIA, the arrested individuals are citizens of Georgia, as well as Russia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, and Turkey.

The following individuals were arrested for the illegal distribution, attempted distribution, and preparation for the distribution of large and especially large amounts of drugs, including the drug "marijuana": K.I. (born in 1996), J.N. (born in 1986), R.A. (born in 1991), E.M. (born in 1997), P.M. (born in 1988), G.S. (born in 1985), K.K. (born in 2001), S.C. (born in 2004), M.B. (born in 1976), S.R. (born in 2002), I.K. (born in 1989), G.A. (born in 1987), M.A. (born in 1991), A.C. (born in 1994), R.J. (born in 1993), R.B. (born in 1982), D.K. (born in 1999), G.M. (born in 1992), and L.A. (born in 1984).

The following individuals were arrested for the illegal acquisition and possession of large and especially large amounts of narcotics: V.K. (born in 2003), T.S. (born in 1996), and D.K. (born in 1998).

The crimes are punishable by up to 20 years or life imprisonment.

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted multiple covert investigative actions based on a court order, which revealed that the accused drug dealers were systematically selling narcotic substances.

The police carried out several types of controlled drug purchases and covert audio-video recordings of these purchases based on court orders.

During searches of the arrested individuals' personal and residential properties, as well as locations they indicated, law enforcement seized a variety of narcotics in especially large quantities, including: "heroin," "amphetamine," "suboxone," "buprenorphine," "alpha-PVP," "methadone," and "marijuana."

As part of the investigative actions, police also seized money, adhesive tapes, and electronic scales, which are likely the proceeds from drug sales.

The investigation is ongoing under Articles 260, 18-260, 19-260, and 273 Prima of the Criminal Code of Georgia.