The Ministry of Internal Affairs has arrested 43 people regions accused of drug trafficking, preparation for trafficking, and attempted trafficking, as well as importing and purchasing and storing large quantities of narcotics into Georgia.

As Minister of Internal Affairs Geka Geladze stated at the briefing, the detainees include both Georgian and foreign citizens.

"I would like to inform the public about another police operation against illegal drug trafficking in Tbilisi and the regions over the past 24 hours, as a result of which we have arrested 43 individuals on charges of drug trafficking, preparation for drug trafficking and attempted drug trafficking, as well as importing and purchasing and storing large quantities of narcotics into Georgia. Among the detainees are both Georgian and foreign citizens.

As a result of operational and investigative measures carried out throughout the country, large and particularly large quantities of narcotics were seized as evidence from the locations indicated by the defendants, as well as during searches of the detainees' personal vehicles and residential buildings.

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

The evidence obtained by law enforcement officers establishes that the detained individuals were involved in the sale of narcotics. They used various Internet applications, social networks, and also the so-called hand-to-hand method.

The police, based on a judge's ruling, carried out several controlled purchases of narcotics from persons arrested on charges of illegal drug trafficking and secretly recorded the aforementioned purchases.

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its subordinate police units continue to intensively fight against the illegal circulation of narcotics and conduct complex measures to arrest drug dealers throughout the country, 24 hours a day, for which I thank each of them," the Minister of Internal Affairs said.