Georgian Police detain 49 individuals linked to “criminal underworld”, charges 14 others in absentia

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia on Tuesday brought 63 individuals linked to the “criminal underworld” to justice following nationwide police operations, detaining 49 suspects and charging 14 others in absentia - including five “thieves-in-law”.

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze announced the results of large-scale police operations carried out across the country, aimed at dismantling organised criminal networks associated with the so-called criminal underworld.

“They are charged with membership in the criminal underworld, participation in criminal gatherings, support of criminal underworld activities, being a thief-in-law, and appealing to a member of the criminal underworld. The majority of those detained have previous convictions for various serious and especially serious crimes”, he said.

“The Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted this police operation on the basis of court warrants. Evidence obtained through covert investigative actions carried out over the past several months, also on the basis of court warrants, established that the accused were in contact with so-called thieves-in-law located abroad, carried out their instructions, and were actively involved in criminal underworld activities”, he continued.

Darakhvelidze further noted that those detained and charged faced accusations including membership in the “criminal underworld”, participation in criminal gatherings, support of criminal activities, holding the status of a “thief-in-law”, and appealing to members of the “criminal underworld”.

“It was also established that so-called criminal settlements were organised at various times in Georgia and abroad with the participation of the accused and opposing parties, in which thieves-in-law residing abroad also took part. During these gatherings, decisions were made in accordance with so-called criminal traditions, and one of the disputing parties was obliged to pay a certain sum of money to the other, or for the benefit of the accused, within a specified period. If they failed to comply with these instructions, they were subjected to verbal and physical abuse. In addition, threats were made against the lives of family members. As a result of searches of the accused persons’ homes and personal belongings, police seized computer equipment and mobile phones used to communicate with each other and with thieves-in-law abroad. Firearms were also seized during the searches”, he said.

The Ministry has repeatedly stated that combating organised crime and ensuring public safety remain among its top priorities.

“One of the main priorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is a systematic and uncompromising fight against organised crime, including criminal activities linked to the so-called criminal underworld. Once again, we emphasise that any person who commits a criminal offence will be punished to the full extent of the law. Our main goal is to ensure public safety to the greatest extent possible and to protect every citizen of Georgia”, Darakhvelidze concluded.