Georgian man arrested for importing drugs from Turkey

A Georgian man has been arrested by local law enforcement officers for allegedly importing a drug that can be modified and abused as an opiate substitute. 

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced police had detained a 30-year-old Georgian citizen, only identified as Giorgi M, for allegedly importing a large quantity of prescribed-only drug Subutex into Georgia from neighboring Turkey. 

In total police seized 82 pills and 2 packets of Subutex, also known as buprenorphine.

Subutex is a drug that is used as a substitute for opiates, making it a valuable addition in the fight against opiate abuse. However it was also able to be abused, as it was an opiate itself.  For this reason, Subutex is tightly controlled in Georgia and a prescription-only medicine however individuals can and do get their hands on this drug in order to abuse it, said the Ministry.

An investigation was now underway for illegal purchase and possession of a large quantity of drugs and illegal import of drugs into Georgian territory.

In recent months Georgia’s law-enforcement bodies have stepped up their fight against drugs and have launched several cases involving Georgian and foreign citizens accused of importing large quantities of drugs into Georgia.