Revenue Service says cross-border drug smuggling attempts prevented

Georgia’s Revenue Service on Thursday said its professionals had prevented attempts of smuggling of narcotic substances of methadone, cocaine and illegal psychotropic drugs across the Sarpi border crossing checkpoint with Turkey in the south-west of the country.

The Service said the officers seized methadone salt in crystalline powder form - weighing in at 238 grams - that had been bundled in polyethylene bags and placed under the soles of sports shoes, with the findings made during luggage search of foreign citizens.

The body noted in one case, the smuggling attempt of a “large amount” of cocaine  had been prevented, with the items weighing in at 500 grams seized from concealed compartments on the body of an alleged offender.

In the other incident, officers seized 168 capsules of illegal psychotropic drugs during a physical and luggage search of a foreign citizen at the checkpoint.

The body also said the cases had been handed over to the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs for further action.