Officers of the Didube-Chugureti and Vake-Saburtalo Main Divisions of the Tbilisi Police Department under Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs have detained five individuals on drug-related charges as a result of various operational and investigative activities, according to a statement from the Ministry.

The detainees are identified as T.Sh. (born in 2002), M.J. (born in 2006), A.K. (born in 2003), R.Ch. (born in 2002), and L.K. (born in 1989), who has a prior criminal record. They are accused of illegally purchasing and storing narcotics in especially large quantities, attempting to sell them, preparing for their sale, as well as acquiring, storing, and attempting to distribute marijuana.

The offenses are punishable by up to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.

“As a result of searches conducted in the suspects’ residences and during personal searches—as well as during a forensic experiment—law enforcement officers seized narcotic substances 'methadone' and 'dried marijuana' that had been placed at various locations for distribution, as indicated by the suspects.

In addition, materials used for packaging drugs, adhesive tapes, and polyethylene bags were also confiscated during the investigation,” the statement reads.