On March 5, Irakli Dondoladze, the Deputy Director of the Central Criminal Police Department of Georgia, and İskender Güray Keskin, the Deputy Head of the Interpol-Europol Department within Turkey’s General Directorate of Security, announced that Georgian and Turkish law enforcement agencies had carried out a joint operation resulting in the arrest of 14 Turkish citizens in Georgia. 

During a briefing at Georgia’s Interior Ministry, Dondoladze stated that the arrests were the result of "lengthy operational and investigative measures" conducted jointly by several units of the Interior Ministry, the Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office, and Turkish law enforcement bodies. He explained that most of the suspects had entered Georgia before they were placed on international wanted lists, while others had crossed the border illegally.

The detainees are suspected of involvement in "grave" and "particularly grave" crimes, Dondoladze emphasized. These include drug-related offenses, robbery, intentional bodily harm, weapons-related crimes, property damage, evading imprisonment, participation in a criminal organization, murder, and fraud committed across 26 separate episodes. He added that the necessary legal procedures are underway to facilitate their transfer to Turkey.

Both officials highlighted the importance of close coordination between Georgian and Turkish police structures. They also recalled that a similar joint operation had taken place in August 2025, when Georgian authorities detained 14 individuals who were internationally wanted by Turkey.