Officers of the Patrol Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tbilisi, Adjara, Kvemo Kartli and Imereti Police Departments, as a result of operational measures and investigative actions conducted at different times, have arrested 16 people on charges of drug crimes.

"The following persons have been detained for the possession of a particularly large amount of narcotic drugs, illegal purchase and storage, illegal sale, attempted sale, facilitation of sale, illegal cultivation of a plant containing narcotic drugs and illegal use of narcotic drugs without a doctor's prescription: A.G., born in 1984, I.G., born in 2001, G.Gh., born in 2004, S.K., born in 1987, persons with previous convictions: I.O., born in 1995, N.Q., born in 2006, Z.J., born in 1974, M.Q., born in 1984, G.Ch., born in 1989, and foreign citizens: A.K., born in 2002, A.A. born in 1970, P.K. born in 1995, I.P. born in 1987, O.B. born in 1993, H.J. born in 1994, A.K. born in 1993. The crimes are punishable by up to 20 years or life imprisonment.

Based on the judge's ruling, the police carried out a controlled purchase of drugs and secretly taped the aforementioned purchases.

As a result of the search of the defendants' personal and residential homes, as well as from a special greenhouse arranged for the cultivation of plants containing narcotic substances and during the investigative experiment, from the locations indicated by them, law enforcement officers seized as evidence a particularly large amount of narcotic substances placed for sale, including: "methamphetamine", "cocaine", "buprenorphine", "clepherdrone", "methadone", "alpha PVP", "marijuana" and "cannabis plant".

The police seized illegally sold drugs, materials and money necessary for packaging and cultivation of narcotic drugs as evidence. The investigation is underway under the Criminal Code," reads the statement.