Five arrested in Georgia in crackdown on “criminal underworld”

Georgian authorities have arrested five individuals in a joint operation targeting the “criminal underworld”, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced on Friday. 

The individuals were involved in illegal activities linked to “thieves in law”, including settling of disputes, intimidation and “other unlawful acts” to “consolidate power and expand criminal influence”.

Among those detained, two face charges of membership in the “criminal underworld”, one is accused of supporting its activities, and two others were arrested for addressing members of the network for settling disputes. Three of the detainees have prior criminal records.

During searches of their homes and personal belongings, police seized mobile phones and illegal substances as evidence, the Ministry said.

The arrests took place in capital Tbilisi, as well as the Ozurgeti and Ureki municipalities in the country’s west, with the operation led by the Guria Police Department of the western region and Ozurgeti District Prosecutor's Office.

If convicted, the suspects face up to 10 years in prison.