Georgian police arrest 26, charge 4 in absentia for “connections with criminal underworld”

The Georgian law enforcement have arrested 26 individuals and charged four others in absentia for their “connections with criminal underworld”, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Friday. 

The operation, led by the Main Directorate for Combating Organised Crime of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry, was conducted in collaboration with the Prosecutor General's Office, with arrests taking place in capital Tbilisi and Imereti and Samegrelo regions of western Georgia. 

Authorities arrested the individuals for “arranging and participating in thief-in-law trials” and “supporting activities of the criminal underworld”, with several of them having previous criminal records. 

Four individuals currently residing outside Georgia were charged in absentia for being “thieves-in-law”. 

The months-long investigation revealed that the individuals had been involved in resolving financial disputes between citizens through illegal means, the MIA said. 

The detainees consulted the “thieves-in-law” abroad and orchestrated illicit arbitration processes known as “thieves’ disputes”. As part of the disputes, payments were imposed on a party, either for the benefit of the other or for “personal financial gain”.

The law enforcement officers seized computers, mobile phones, firearms, ammunition, and drugs including marijuana during searches. The devices were allegedly used for communication with criminals abroad, the MIA said. 

The crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.