Police arrest 14, seize illegal firearms, ammunition across Georgia

Georgian police have arrested 14 individuals in capital 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 Thursday.

The Ministry revealed law enforcement had seized pistols, two revolvers, seven firearms, two sawn-off rifles, a grenade, 1,270 cartridges, 22 magazines and 17 knives from the persons.

Both the offenders and their residential houses were searched in the effort, with eight out of the 14 individuals having previous criminal records.

The body said police departments in the capital city, western regions of Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti were involved in the efforts, while other actions involved law enforcement in the central-eastern Shida Kartli region as well as south-eastern Kvemo Kartli and eastern Kakheti regions.

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