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On the joint effort of the Georgian Law Enforcement and the US Embassy Diplomatic Security
5 MINUTE READ
February 24, 2023

On the joint effort of the Georgian Law Enforcement and the US Embassy Diplomatic Security 3 people were arrested for aiding the illegal stay of a Georgian citizen abroad

The Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in conjunction with the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Criminal Investigation Service of the Diplomatic Security of the US Embassy, has successfully carried out complex operational measures and investigative actions resulting in the arrest of three individuals. The suspects, N.V. born in 1984, N.D. born in 1991, and N.B. born in 1990, have been charged with repeatedly creating and organizing conditions for the illegal stay of a Georgian citizen in a foreign country. This serious crime is punishable by up to six years of imprisonment.

The investigation uncovered that N.V. created a travel company to facilitate the illegal travel of Georgian citizens to the United States of America and their subsequent illegal stay. N.D. and N.B. were employed by this company. The accused would provide appropriate documentation for their clients to enter the United States in exchange for a certain amount of money. Afterward, they would transport their clients through different countries to the United States’ border, where the Georgian citizens would illegally cross into the country.

In the course of this ongoing investigation, law enforcement officers made a secret audio-video recording based on a judge’s ruling. This recording provided further confirmation of the illegal actions committed by the suspects. The police conducted a search of the defendants’ work offices based on the judge’s decision and seized cash, documents, computer equipment, and mobile phones as evidence.

This investigation is being conducted under Article 344 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which prohibits the creation and organization of conditions for the illegal stay of a Georgian citizen in a foreign country with prior knowledge. We take this crime very seriously, and the authorities involved in this investigation will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served.