As a result of joint operational measures and investigative actions, officers of Guria Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ozurgeti District Prosecutor’s Office, based on a judge’s ruling, have detained 13 people connected with the “thieves’ world” in Tbilisi, Lanchkhuti and Batumi, and charged 2 people, including the so-called “thief in law”.
Those arrested for membership of the “thieves World” are: D.K., born in 1996, Z.Kh., born in 1976, nicknamed “Zaliko”, N.K., born in 1970, nicknamed “Nuri”, L.Ch., born in 1991, nicknamed “Furashka”, and Z.K., born in 1968, nicknamed “Timothe”.
Those arrested for “supporting the activities of the thieves’ world” are: A.Ch., born in 1976, K.G., born in 1999, and L.M., born in 1975, who has a previous conviction.
Those arrested for appealing to a “member of the thieves’ world” are: L.M., born in 2000 and previously convicted persons: R.O., born in 1980, V.B., born in 1982, K.Kh., born in 1977, and G.Kh., born in 1972.
As for Tengiz Khoperia, born in 1970, nicknamed “Chinka”, who lives abroad and has a previous conviction, the charges were brought in absentia for being a “thief in law”.
while D.S., born in 1954, was found guilty of “appealing to a member of the criminal world”.
The committed crimes envision up to 15 years in prison.
As a result of an intensive investigation conducted by law enforcement officers, including undercover investigative actions based on a judge's ruling, it was established that the defendants were in contact with the so-called "thieves in law", carried out their tasks and actively participated in the activities of the "thieves' world".
Through criminal skirmish, intimidation, threats, use of their own criminal influence and illegal actions, as well as in order to gain power and authority, the detainees carried out the activities of the "thieves' world" in Guria region and Lanchkhuti municipality for their own and others' benefit.
As a result of defendants' personal search and search activities held in their residential homes, the police seized computer equipment and mobile phones as evidence, through which they communicated with each other and with "thieves in law" abroad, as well as firearms and cold weapons, cartridges, explosive devices, "marijuana" and cash. The investigation is ongoing under Article 223 (1), Part 2, Article 223 (1), Part 1, Article 223 (3), Part 2, and Article 223 (4), Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
