Police arrest 13 for connections with “criminal underworld”

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Thursday said it had arrested 13 individuals across the country for connections with the “criminal underworld” and use of criminal authorities for settling financial disputes.

The Ministry said five of the individuals were charged with membership of the sphere, while eight were arrested for supporting activities and appealing to members. Law enforcement are also searching for two criminal authorities as part of the case.

It also said the investigation had established the individuals had asked a member of the “criminal underworld” who lived abroad for support in solving a financial dispute, and arranged “thief-in-law trials”. 

The body said its investigation had revealed that the members had demanded a share from a “large amount of money” won in online gambling from one of the defendants and informed a “thief-in-law” about the proceedings, before receiving pledges of the latter’s support in resolving the dispute. The agreement was followed by wiring of money to criminal authorities involved in the case.

Law enforcement seized a car, gold items and phones used by the group for communication between each other and with members of the “criminal underworld” abroad.

They also discovered firearms, magazines and about 50 rounds during the search of one of the arrested individual’s residential house, while cannabis was seized from the house of the other arrested individuals.

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