Monk detained in Georgia for drug-crimes
The Georgian media reports that two individuals have been detained for drug crimes in the Samegrelo region of Georgia, a monk among them. Photo: Maksim Balandiukh/livejournal.com.
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A monk has been detained in Georgia’s western Samegrelo region for possession of drugs, the Georgian Public Broadcaster reports.
The media outlet says that the monk lived in Athos Mountain, Greece
The IPN news agency reports that the monk was detained yesterday, while another individual involved in the alleged crime was detained earlier, on December 2.
The IPN says that the monk was in possession of 40 pills of methadone and he admits to the crime.
Zugdidi and Tsaishi Archbishop Gerasime has confirmed the detention, saying he knows the detainee and is “very surprised.”
We were studying together at Tbilisi seminary, then he went to Athos and became a monk there. His brother is serving in our eparchy as an archpriest,” he said.
The Interior Ministry has not released other information regarding the detention so far.
Georgian police have detained two foreign nationals for the possession of 1,557 pills of ecstasy. The police have not released information pertaining to the the countries of origin of the detainees.
Georgian police have seized heroin in especially large quantities from a Turkish citizen in Georgia’s western coastal city of Batumi. The individual, who was identified as M.I., 46, has been charged with the possession of drugs.
The ministry says that so-called ‘drug-shops’ were set up on Telegram messenger and internet platform Matanga, through which the drug dealers would connect with their clients and agree upon drop spots.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has charged 77 individuals of smuggling drugs into Georgia in between January and July 2019. The Ministry reports that three were detained for attempting to smuggle drugs in Georgia several days ago.
Georgian police have confiscated 6.5 kilograms of heroin from an individual living in the Georgian village of Vakiri in Signagi municipality, eastern Georgia.
Customs officers have seized illicit drugs in a postal item that was coming through Tbilisi International Airport, says the Revenue Service of Georgia.