The Investigation Service of Ministry of Finance of Georgia carries out intensive activities in order to expose facts of importing, transportation and selling of goods subject to marking on the territory of Georgia without excise by means of smuggling.

Customs Department of the Revenue Service of Georgia as well as inter-agency unit of joint Container Control Program (CCP) of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Customs Organization (WCO) are actively involved in above mentioned activities.

As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities carried out by the joint group of the Investigation Service of Ministry of Finance of Georgia, Customs Department of the Revenue Service and inter-agency unit of Container Control Program (CCP) of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Customs Organization (WCO), transportation of especially large amount of goods without excise was exposed and two citizens of Armenia were arrested.

Investigation has determined that in one case according to documents presented the accused person was transporting manufactured stone from Armenia to Russian Federation through customs checkpoint “Kazbegi”, though during the checking procedure, large quantity (48 100 packs) of different types of cigarettes without excise were discovered in the truck.

In second case, according to official documents, the accused person was transiting flowers from Armenia to Russian Federation, through customs checkpoint “Guguti”, with the truck conducted by him. During the checking procedure, illegal transportation of especially large quantities (65 450 packs) of different types of cigarettes without excise was exposed.

Total market value of cigarettes seized as a result of activities carried out and being without excise equals GEL 353 825.

Investigation is underway under third part of article 200 of Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages imprisonment from 6 to 8 years.