Over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia conducted a nationwide police operation, during which 42 people were detained on drug-related charges — most of them are major drug traffickers, while some are accused of the illegal purchase and possession of drugs in especially large quantities.

The drug offenders were detained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the General Prosecutor’s Office, as a result of operational, investigative, and procedural measures carried out in Tbilisi and the regions.

Among the detainees are both Georgian and foreign citizens.

Based on a court ruling and evidence obtained through covert investigative actions, including audio and video recordings, it was confirmed that most of the detainees were involved in a drug distribution scheme. The drug offenders used internet applications to place narcotics in specific locations for later sale and sent the relevant information to individuals interested in purchasing the drugs. It was also established that the detainees distributed drugs by other means as well.

Law enforcement officers seized especially large quantities of various types of narcotics intended for sale on the so-called “black market.” Among the seized drugs were: heroin, cocaine, alpha-PVP, buprenorphine, Suboxone, methadone, ketamine, mephedrone, MDMA, marijuana, and others.