Georgian law enforcement authorities on Saturday arrested 80 people in a large-scale operation targeting individuals allegedly linked to the so-called “thieves’ underworld”, while 14 others are set to face charges, including one alleged “thief in law” who is currently abroad.

Axar.az reports, citing Imedi News, that the operation was carried out in Tbilisi and various regions over the past 24 hours by officers of the Central Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Davit Kiknadze, Director of the Central Criminal Police Department, noted that an investigation, including covert investigative measures authorised by a court, established that individuals allegedly associated with “thief in law” Giorgi Gogoladze systematically organised so-called “thieves’ disputes” and made decisions based on criminal traditions.

“An intensive investigation conducted by law enforcement officers, including covert investigative measures carried out on the basis of a court ruling, established that members of the entourage of the so-called thief in law Giorgi Gogoladze, who is abroad, systematically organised so-called thieves’ disputes and made decisions according to so-called thieves’ traditions. Specifically, at different times and locations, the defendants considered financial disputes between parties and, as a result of so-called thieves’ disputes, required one of the parties involved to pay a certain amount of money to the other party, as well as for their own benefit”, he said.