The employees of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the employees of the Adjara and Imereti Police Departments and the General Prosecutor's Office, as a result of complex operational measures and investigative actions, arrested 15 members of the criminal group in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi, based on the judge's decision.
Along with Georgian citizens foreigners were also taken under arrest.
Citizens of foreign countries are arrested on charges of trafficking of minors: V.A. (DoB 1972), N.M. (DoB 1972), A.B. (DoB 1961), I.B. (DoB 1993), B.B. (DoB 1994). U.A. (DoB 1990) and previously convicted A.B. (DoB 1987).
The following citizens of Georgia and foreign countries were arrested for the robbery committed by an organized group and the illegal crossing of the state border of Georgia: N.M. (DoB 2008), A.F. (DoB 2009), K.B. (DoB 2000), A.B. (DoB 1988), Sh.B (DoB 1987), M.B. (DoB 1995) and previously convicted persons - A.B. (DoB 2004), M.M. (DoB 2005).
The committed crimes envision up to 17 years of imprisonment.
The conducted investigation established that foreign citizens residing in Georgia developed a trafficking scheme of minors. In order to fulfill the aforementioned plot and perform labor exploitation, minor children in different cities were forced to beg people for money, and the received amount was fully appropriated by detainees.
If the minors failed to comply with the defendants' demands, they were put under psychological pressure and forced to obey their instructions.
As a result of complex investigative actions, it was also established that citizens of Georgia and foreign countries created an organized criminal group. The defendants, for the purpose of unlawful appropriation, seized money belonging to tourists who arrived in Georgia at different locations and in different periods of time in Tbilisi.
During the investigation, it was also established that the citizens of a foreign country crossed the state border of Georgia illegally and stayed in Georgia without any legal grounds.
The investigation is being conducted under Articles 143 (II), 178 and 344 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
