Police Detain 20 for Illegal Sale of Psychotropic Drugs

Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) has detained 20 people for illegal sale of psychotropic drugs, including the Head of the State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities of the Ministry of Health of Georgia, Gia Tvaltvadze.

The SSS reports that as a result of searching and investigative activities conducted within the framework of ongoing investigation into illicit traffic of psychotropic medications in an area of so-called “Pharmacy drug addiction”, on the grounds of judge's decision detained Gia Tvalavadze and 19 other people, several out of them the directors of the pharmacies.

“Investigation established, that illegal realization of psychotropic substances was carried out in 15 pharmacies of Tbilisi and Gori. The directors and actual owners of the mentioned pharmacies, aiming at receiving private material gain, carried out illegal entrepreneurial activities. In particular, the realization of the psychotropic medications, as well as those subordinated to the special control has been carried out without authorization and through breach of permission conditions, as a result of which they received the income in large quantities,” the statement of the SSS reads.

Moreover, the Security Service says that the realization of psychotropic medications without prescription amounted to GEL 4,094,709. 

The investigation is underway into the fact of misusing official powers and illegal entrepreneurial activity committed by a group, article 332, part I and article 192 part II Sub-paragraph „a” of  the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages from 3 to 5 years of imprisonment.

Sopho Chumburizdze, spokesperson for Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, made a comment regarding the case. According to her, pharmacy drug addiction is one of the major challenges facing the country.

“We hope that the investigation will establish the full picture in the shortest period of time enabling us to defeat the pharmacy drug addiction. As for Gia Tvalavadze, head of the State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities of the Ministry of Health, the court will bring a final verdict about him,” Chumburizdze said. 

Tvalavadze’s lawyer Lali Aptsiauri stated her client does not plead guilty. According to her, she will be ready to make more comments after thoroughly studying the case.

By Thea Morrison