18 arrested for connections with “criminal underworld”

Police officers of the Main Division for Combating Organised Crime under the Georgian Interior Ministry’s Central Criminal Police Department have arrested 18 individuals in Tbilisi and other regions of the country for connections with “criminal underworld” and requesting help from “thieves-in-law”, the Ministry said on Tuesday.

The state body said the offenders had been in contact with “criminal authorities” residing abroad in order to settle financial disputes between Georgian citizens and receive “personal benefits”.

The offenders organised “criminal disputes” at different locations, made decisions and tasked one of the disputing parties to make a payment to the other side, it added. 

The body said its investigation had found the arrested individuals also verbally and physically assaulted their victims after the latter disobeyed their instructions.

Police officers seized firearms, cartridges, illegal drugs, cash, computer equipment and mobile phones during a related search.

The crimes are punishable by up to 15 years in prison.