VIDEO: 11 Arrested in Georgia for Selling Child Pornographic Materials

The Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, along with the Prosecutor General's Office, Europol, and law enforcement agencies from the USA and Australia, have arrested 11 members of an international criminal group for trafficking minors and producing and selling pornographic materials featuring minors.

Among those arrested are citizens of the USA, Australia, and Georgia, including parents, relatives, and friends of minors, as well as owners and employees of an illegal photography studio. The investigation revealed that the arrested citizens from the USA and Australia had secretly organized photography studios in rented apartments in Tbilisi, aiming to sell pornographic materials depicting minors abroad. The accused were also involving the parents of minor children in their criminal activities, obtaining their consent. Approximately 10 girls aged between 8 to 14 years were reported as victims of such agreements.

To obtain permission for photographing adolescents, the criminal group paid their parents between 500 to 3000 lari in cash or via bank transfer. “The committed crime carries a sentence of 17-20 years of imprisonment or life imprisonment,” stated the Ministry of Internal Affairs.