Police arrest 20, seize illegal firearms, ammunition in Tbilisi, regions

Georgian police have arrested 20 individuals in Tbilisi and other regions of the country on charges of illegal purchase and storage of firearms and ammunition over a recent period, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said on Tuesday.

The Ministry revealed law enforcement had seized firearms, sidearms, hunting rifles, a machine gun, hundreds of cartridges and illegal ammunition from the persons, with six out of the 20 individuals having previous criminal records.

Police departments in the capital city, western regions of Imereti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti and Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti were involved in the efforts, while other action involved law enforcement in the central Mtskheta-Mtianeti and eastern Kakheti regions. 

The crimes are punishable by three to seven years in prison.