Drug crime lawyer in Georgia
Drug crime lawyer in Georgia: we defend persons suspected or accused of drug offences, and witnesses, in criminal and administrative cases — from the first minute of an arrest or search.
- Confidential
- Georgian · English · Russian
- Free first consultation
- Courts of all instances
Drug offences are covered by Chapter XXXIII of the Criminal Code of Georgia. The penalty depends mainly on the act (buying and possession, making and transporting, sale, import) and on the amount — small, large or especially large. The amounts are set in an annex to the law.
In these cases the outcome often turns on whether the search was lawful, how the substance was seized and stored, and what the forensic examination shows. That is why involving a lawyer from the start of an arrest or search matters.
When you need a lawyer
- You or a family member were arrested over drugs
- You are summoned for questioning — as a witness or a suspect
- Your home or car was searched and something was seized
- You were taken for, or asked to take, a drug test
- You received a fine or administrative detention
- You are contacted about a parcel sent by post
If you are arrested
- Stay calm and don't resist.
- Use your right to remain silent — give no statement without a lawyer.
- Don't sign a record you disagree with — you can add a note.
- Ask for a lawyer and for a family member to be informed.
- Remember who was present at the search and what was taken.
A person must be charged within 48 hours of arrest, and within the following 24 hours a court must decide on a preventive measure.
What we check in your defence
- Whether the search and seizure were lawful
- How the substance was packed, stored and sent for examination
- The forensic report — what the substance is and how much
- Whether there was police entrapment
- Whether the act is classified under the right article
What we handle
- Defence against possession charges
- Defence in sale and supply cases
- Import, export and parcels
- Cultivation of plants
- Administrative cases — fines and administrative detention
- Checking the search and forensic examination
- Appealing a preventive measure
- Plea agreements and appeals
Questions & answers
Is using drugs a crime in Georgia?
The first time, in a small amount — as a rule, no. It is an administrative offence: a fine of GEL 500–2,000 or administrative detention of up to 60 days. If it happens again after an administrative penalty, it becomes a criminal offence.
What is the penalty for buying or possessing drugs?
Under Article 260 of the Criminal Code — imprisonment of up to 6 years; for a large amount or other aggravating circumstances, 5 to 8 years; for an especially large amount or by an organised group, 8 to 20 years or life. Much depends on the amount and the evidence.
Is marijuana punished?
Buying or possessing a small amount of marijuana is an administrative offence — a GEL 500 fine. Using it in public places, in front of minors or near schools carries higher fines. Large amounts and sale are criminal offences.
Can I refuse a drug test?
Avoiding a test is itself an administrative offence — a fine of GEL 500–2,000 or administrative detention of up to 60 days. Call a lawyer before you decide.
If I hand drugs over voluntarily, am I liable?
By law, a person who voluntarily hands over the substance is released from criminal liability, unless the act contains another crime. It counts as voluntary only if declared before an investigation starts and the person actively helps with the seizure.
What other consequences can there be?
Besides a criminal record, a court may take away certain rights, including the right to drive, under the Law on Combating Drug Crime.
Legal basis
- Criminal Code of Georgia
- Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia
- Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia
- Law of Georgia on Combating Drug Crime
Official texts (in Georgian) — Legislative Herald of Georgia, matsne.gov.ge.
Other practice areas
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The first consultation is free and confidential.