Border Police Detain Three Individuals for Preparing Illegal Transportation of a Migrant Across Georgia’s State Border

Officers of the Border Police of Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with personnel from the Central Criminal Police Department, detained one Georgian citizen — J.E., born in 1979 — and two foreign nationals — N.M., born in 1989, and V.I., born in 1999 — as part of a joint operation and investigation. The individuals were arrested for organizing, as a group, the preparation of illegal transportation of a migrant across Georgia’s state border. This was reported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to the agency, the investigation established that J.E., N.M., and V.I. organized the preparation of the illegal transportation of a migrant from Georgia to Turkey via the Sarpi border checkpoint using a cargo truck (secretly). In return, they received a large sum of money.

According to the Ministry, based on a court order, Border Police officers conducted a controlled operation — transferring money to the suspects in connection with the preparation for illegal border crossing — and made a covert audio-video recording of the event. As a result of personal searches and a vehicle inspection, law enforcement officers seized the large sum of money handed over during the operation as material evidence.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 18-344¹, Part 3, Subparagraph "a" of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The crime is punishable by 8 to 15 years of imprisonment.