Sixteen individuals have been charged with illegal arms trafficking following large-scale security operations carried out across Georgia.

Over the past 48 hours, officers from the Interior Ministry conducted coordinated raids in Tbilisi and several regions of the country, The Caspian Post reports, citing Georgian media.

Speaking at a briefing, Interior Minister Gela Geladze said that 97 people were detained during the operations, with 16 formally charged with illegal weapons trafficking.

Law enforcement officers searched residential properties, outbuildings, and vehicles, seizing dozens of firearms, automatic weapons, and grenades.

Those charged could face prison sentences of up to 11 years if convicted.

Geladze stressed that the authorities will continue their active efforts to combat crime, pledging that Georgia aims to become one of the world’s most successful countries in fighting criminal activity.