Heroin intercepted in Georgia belonged to Taliban - Interior Ministry
TBILISI. July 25 (Interfax) - Georgian Interior Minister Alexander Chikaidze said the record amount of drugs, 2.7 tonnes of liquid heroin, which was seized by law enforcement officials two weeks ago en route to Europe, belonged to the Taliban.
"We have found that drugs have not been seized in Europe in such amounts yet," Chikaidze said at a meeting of several committees of the Georgian parliament on Friday.
The minister said the drugs originated in Afghanistan. "The drugs belonged to the Taliban and were being transported to Europe," he said.
"The market value of the cargo is some $400 million" the minister said.
According to earlier reports, officials from the Georgian Interior Ministry and the Finance Ministry's revenue service detained two citizens of Georgia in a special operation and an inspection of their truck y8ielded some 2.7 tonnes of liquid heroin. The drugs were in 93 barrels, each having a capacity of thirty kilos.
Investigators determined that the vehicle had entered Georgia from Azerbaijan and was moving in the direction of Turkey.
A criminal case was opened. An investigation is underway.