Two French women had been arrested in Georgia for possessing codeine Dafalgan. Hatice Kaynar was finally able to return home, a few days after her compatriot.
Hatice Kaynar, a 36-year-old Frenchwoman, is finally relieved. Under an administrative detention measure for nearly 10 days in Georgia, she was able to leave the small Caucasian republic on Tuesday. She was guilty of possession of codeine Dafalgan, a pain medication considered to be a narcotic in Georgia.
Sentenced to a fine of 2,500 euros
The same mishap had happened to Arzu Bilici. But the 41-year-old mother was allowed to leave Georgia on August 8. “ The nightmare is over “, then told AFP his mother. After a judgment, the two French women were however ordered to pay a fine of 2,500 euros.
Arzu Bilici, 41, and Hatice Kaynar, 36, were staying in Turkey. The two women have the same idea, a few days apart: to cross the border with Georgia. But they come up against customs. It is the contents of their first aid kit which is incriminated, more particularly an analgesic drug which may seem harmless. Codeine Dafalgan is prohibited in this republic located in the western Caucasus.
Advice for travelers
If the case is surprising, the ban on opiate-based drugs is not ignored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It indicates on its site that “certain drugs delivered by prescription in Europe are not authorized for importation into Georgia”. He “strongly” recommends that people undergoing medical treatment check with the Georgian Embassy in France that it is authorized. And if they move around the country, keeping the original and copies of the ordinance with them will help avoid such pitfalls. This advice is valid for all tourists who take prescription drugs, regardless of their destination.
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