As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities carried out by the representatives of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia together with the representatives of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, three persons were detained on March 01, 2024 on the fact of storage and transportation of excisable goods subject to marking, without excise marks, in particularly large quantities.

As a result of investigative activities, in Samegrelo region total number of 54 500 boxes of different brands of non-excised tobacco, intended for sale, were seized from the persons exposed in crime. Total market value of the seized goods exceeds GEL 256 000.

Investigation is underway under the second and third parts of Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages imprisonment from 6 to 8 years. Relevant measures are being carried out in order to identify and expose persons in criminal connection with the accused.

Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance actively continues suppression, detection and investigation of the facts of storage and transportation of excise goods subject to marking without an excise mark. As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities carried out throughout Georgia, during the month of February of the current year, representatives of Investigation Service exposed 20 facts of storage, transportation and sale of large amount of excisable goods subject to marking, without excise marks and brought to the criminal liability 15 persons, 4 of which were detained. Total number of 12 676 boxes of different brands of non-excised tobacco, intended for sale, were seized from the persons exposed in crime, market value of which exceeds GEL 70 000.