The Ministry of Internal Affairs has arrested 27 persons connected to the so-called thieves’ world, and charges will be brought against another 6 persons, including one so-called “thief in law” who is abroad, - this was stated at a briefing by the Director of the Central Criminal Police Department, Davit Kiknadze.

According to him, the investigation established that the accused were receiving instructions from a so-called “thief in law” located abroad, Mamuka Chkhaberidze, and were acting in accordance with his assignments. They systematically contacted each other and organized so-called “thieves’ gatherings,” where decisions were made in accordance with thieves’ traditions.

In addition, the investigation also established that the accused were examining financial disputes between parties, during which they imposed the payment of money on one party in favor of the other, as well as in their own favor. In case of violation of specific deadlines, they threatened physical reckoning and deprivation of life.

Davit Kiknadze also explains that from January 1 to the present day, a total of 343 persons connected to the so-called thieves’ world have been arrested and charged under criminal law by law enforcement officers, including 8 so-called “thieves in law.”

“Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continue to actively and continuously fight against various categories of crime. One of the main priorities of the Ministry’s activities is the fight against organized crime, including crime related to the so-called thieves’ world.

In this direction, as a result of a large-scale police operation, employees of the Central Criminal Police Department, together with the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, arrested 27 persons connected to the so-called thieves’ world over the past 24 hours. Charges will be brought against another 6 persons, some in a penitentiary institution and some in absentia, including one so-called ‘thief in law’ who is abroad.

As a result of intensive covert investigative actions carried out by law enforcement officers on the basis of a judge’s ruling, it is established that the accused were receiving instructions from a so-called ‘thief in law’ located abroad, Mamuka Chkhaberidze, and were acting in accordance with his assignments.

They systematically contacted each other and organized so-called ‘thieves’ gatherings,’ where decisions were made in accordance with thieves’ traditions.

It was also established that the accused were examining financial disputes between parties, during which they imposed the payment of money on one party in favor of the other, as well as in their own favor. In case of violation of specific deadlines, they threatened physical reckoning and deprivation of life.

As a result of searches of the accused persons’ personal belongings and residences, the police seized computer equipment and mobile phones as evidence, through which they were contacting each other and the so-called ‘thief in law’ located abroad. As a result of investigative actions, the police also seized various types of firearms and ammunition.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 223¹, 223³, 223⁴ and 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provide for imprisonment for a term of up to 15 years.

It is noteworthy that the police operations conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs this year against organized crime have produced significant results.

From January 1 to the present day, 343 persons connected to the so-called thieves’ world have been arrested and charged under criminal law by law enforcement officers, including 8 so-called ‘thieves in law,’” - Kiknadze stated.