The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia together with the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia continues to fight against illegal trade of drug substances. Unfortunately, during the last period, everyone has witnessed tragic deaths of young people. It should be noted that in all cases, the facts of death occurred after the visits to the clubs. Besides, demand for the emergency medical services from night clubs has significantly increased. According to the current information, number of young persons, including Juveniles have been transferred to the hospitals with the diagnosis of intoxication with narcotic substances.
For the past three months, the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have been conducting active operative-search and investigative activities in the clubs located in Tbilisi, including “Bassiani” and “Gallery”. Based on the ruling issued by the Judge, several controlled purchases have been conducted in clubs, in order to reveal the drug dealers, the facts have been filmed through cameras.
As a result of the aforementioned investigative activities, eight drug dealers were revealed, who were systematically trading with drug substances in clubs, including “Bassiani” and “Gallery”. Considering the circumstances that many facts of drug trade had happened in clubs, there was a reasonable ground that the drug dealers had close connections with the mentioned clubs.
The drug dealers used the territory of clubs for the purposes of selling drugs. One of the drug dealers is a member of the club security service. The named person was detained in the club. During his personal search, large quantity of narcotic substances was found ready for sale.
Accordingly, based on the ruling by the judge, on May 12, 2018, at approximately 01:00, i.e. exactly on time, that based on the evidence possessed by the investigation, was scheduled for sale of narcotic substances, including hard and synthetic narcotic substances in clubs, that might again cause live endangering results, the investigative activities were initiated in “Bassiani” and “Gallery”.
Considering the fact that the goal of MIA was to conduct the investigative activities in clubs directly, and at the same time to remove a large number of young persons from the clubs without any incident, as well as to ensure high level of security during the operation, relevant number of police forces was mobilized.
Prior to the initiation of investigative activity, the persons present in the clubs were given an explanation that if they voluntarily gave up the narcotic substances, they would be released from the criminal liability based on the Article 260 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Following the request of the police, certain number of persons left the narcotic substances in the club, on which forensic testing is being conducted. The given persons together with other individuals were removed from the club building. None of them were subject to body inspection or search. None of the club guests were detained on Criminal charges.
As a result of the conducted investigative activity, 8 drug dealers were detained. The police possesses video records, filmed based the ruling of the judge, on each fact of drug trade conducted in clubs by those persons.
More precisely, the following persons are being detained by the Police: V.Zh., born in 1988, L.M. born in 1992, K.M. born in 1996, M.M. born in 1997, B.D. born in 1995, T.Ch. born in 1994, J.E. born in 1994 and G.M. born in 1988.
All persons who were arrested based on the administrative charges for resistance to police and petty hooliganism are being released.
At this moment, the investigative activities are being carried out in the clubs.
It should be emphasized that the Ministry of Internal Affairs supports the development of club culture in Georgia, however, at the same time, MIA declares irreconcilable fight against illegal trade of drug substances, including in the clubs. Accordingly, the decision related to continuance of functioning process of individual clubs is the competence of the club owners.
