According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the agency's officers arrested 6 members of an organized crime group, including one leader, who were robbing grocery stores in Tbilisi and various regions and illegally, secretly delivering stolen items to retail outlets, with prior agreement.

As the Director of the Tbilisi Police Department, Vazha Siradze, stated at a briefing, among the detainees are traders who were collecting stolen goods for the purpose of later selling them.

According to him, two of the detainees are minors.

“The investigation conducted by law enforcement officers into the criminal case, including undercover investigative actions, has revealed that the leader of the organized group systematically involved minors, including those under the age of responsibility, in the criminal scheme. In particular, he was in contact with the minors who were members of the criminal group and ensured their movement in Tbilisi and regions, where they robbed objects according to a pre-developed plan.

The minors stole large amounts of money, food, various alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. The stolen products were delivered to the shopping center on Tevdore Mghvdeli Street in Tbilisi at a price lower than the market value, by prior agreement. As a result of the sale of the stolen goods, the group leader appropriated the main part of the money obtained through criminal means.

In addition, as a result of the search of residential houses the arrested traders and shops belonging to them, a large amount of money, various products, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, allegedly obtained as a result of the sale of stolen goods, were seized.

An investigation is underway into the fact of theft and purchase and sale of property obtained through criminal means by an organized group with prior knowledge, a crime provided for in Article 177, Part 4 and Article 186, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for imprisonment for a term of up to 10 years.

Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue relevant investigative actions in order to identify other persons involved in the criminal scheme and bring them to criminal liability.

One of the main priorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the fight against organized crime. Anyone who commits a similar crime will be punished in the strictest manner in accordance with the law," said Vazha Siradze.