As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities, representatives of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, through the coordinated activities carried out together with the representatives of Customs Department of the Revenue Service, brought to the criminal liability nine persons on the fact of damaging large amount of property by deceit and manufacturing and using forged document certifying property authority, as a group.

Investigation determined that during 2017-2021 various individuals brought 71 vehicles from the United States, which were later, as if the purpose was to re-export, were registered on the names foreign nationals on the bases of forged purchase agreements. In fact, instead of taking the cars out of the country, the vehicles were dismantled and sold into parts without customs clearance. As a result of this, the state budget was damaged in total with GEL 279 168. At this stage of the investigation, the accused have compensated the damage in the amount of GEL 242 891.

Investigation is underway under the third part of Article 185 and second part of Article 210 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages imprisonment from 4 to 7 years.

Relevant measures are being carried out in order to identify and expose other persons involved in this type of crime.