A routine trip abroad can quickly turn into a nightmare for Israeli travelers carrying everyday medications, officials and families warn, after several visitors were detained upon entering Georgia with prescription and over-the-counter drugs in their luggage.
Recent incidents have seen Israeli tourists held for questioning, investigated, fined and even temporarily barred from leaving Georgia because border officials found medications that are banned in the country, prompting a stern travel advisory from the Foreign Ministry.
Last month, an Israeli man arriving in Georgia for a ski holiday found himself in a legal quagmire after his mother packed his medications — including anti-diarrheal pills, cold medicine, pain relievers and antibiotics — in a suitcase before his trip.
“At the border, his bag went through X-ray, and suddenly he was held for questioning,” his mother told ynet. “Who would imagine that such common medications we pack for illness would lead to my son being arrested, forced to deal with the utterly absurd with Georgian police?”
The consequences were immediate: the father had to fly to Georgia urgently and hire a local lawyer. The man was not allowed to leave the country while the legal matter was resolved, including payment of a 25,000 shekel fine. “It was surreal. And the ski trip was ruined. It’s an ordeal I wouldn’t wish on any parent,” she said.
The mother warned the situation could have been far worse: “If he had Ritalin — a medication many travelers use daily — it would have been much more complicated. He could have ended up in jail.”
She also alleged that Georgian officials are deliberately targeting Israelis with medication in their luggage, saying they “wait at the border to catch travelers’ medicine bags in the X-ray.” She added that authorities would not accept the fine by bank transfer, insisting a relative bring 25,000 shekels in cash to settle the matter on the spot.
The family also criticized airlines for failing to warn passengers. “We were reminded to get travel insurance, but why not include one sentence about this critical medication warning for this destination?”
Not all medications carried by the traveler are considered over-the-counter in Israel. For example, Rokest Plus requires a prescription in Israel and is completely prohibited from entry into Georgia — even with a translated, notarized doctor’s note. Other commonly used medications banned in Georgia include Ritalin, Lyrica and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine.
How to avoid arrest in Georgia
Georgian border authorities strictly enforce bans on controlled and psychotropic substances. Travelers are advised to follow these rules:
- Prescription and notarization: Carry a doctor’s prescription written in English and notarized for every medication, including those that are over the counter in Israel (such as cold medicine).
- Original packaging: Keep pills in their original containers; do not transfer them to pill organizers.
- Reasonable quantities: Amounts must align with personal use as indicated on the prescription, generally not more than a 31-day supply.
- Carry-on bag: Keep medications in a carry-on bag rather than checked luggage so you can present documentation if asked during screening.
- Pre-trip checks: Always check travel advisories on the Foreign Ministry website before flying. Ignorance of Georgian law (or others — for example, fruit bans in the United States) can result in deportation and heavy fines.
Israeli officials stress that awareness of medication rules is essential to avoid costly and stressful encounters abroad.