10 Georgians Arrested in France

10 Georgians, including two so-called thieves-in-law have been arrested to France as a result of the joint special operation carried out by Georgian and French law enforcers.

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) says the arrested Georgians are members of a criminal organized group.

“As a result of the mutual cooperation and with the active participation of Georgian law enforcers, on December 10 a large-scale special operation "VORS 69-01" was held in Lyon, France, following which 22 members of the Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani organized criminal group operating in France and Belgium were arrested. Among the detainees there are 10 citizens of Georgia, including two so-called thieves-in-law,” MIA reports.

The investigation revealed that the detainees were selecting apartments, studying them and then robbing them. They also stole cars, prepared false documents and committed drug crimes.

During the search of the houses of the detainees, stolen items were found, among them, jewelry, firearms, expensive cars, large amounts of money, equipment for forging documents, and lock-breaking devices.

Law enforcers also seized narcotic drugs of the Subotex and Methadone group and seized 1500 boxes of illegal cigarettes. According to the investigation, the total damage inflicted by the criminals amounted to more than £400,000.

The arrested people face up to 15 years imprisonment.

By Thea Morrison