Representatives of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia seized unprecedented amount of 75 137 bottles of alcoholic beverages and 318 000 boxes of excisable cigarettes without excise marks.

Seven individuals, involved in the crime, had been detained.

Investigation determined that for many years, the accused owned an illegal factory for manufacturing of alcoholic beverages, where illegal bottling and sale of various brands of Georgian and foreign branded alcoholic beverages was carried out in a handicraft manner.

As a result of investigative activities, 75 137 bottles of excisable alcoholic beverages without excise marks, prepared for sale were seized, namely vodka BELUGA, BELVEDER, GREY GOOSE, whiskey BORKAN and CHIVAS REGAL.

During the search, in the factory we also detected a large number of bottles, corks, labels, and packaging materials intended for the production of the said beverages. Also, the tanks contained approximately 24 tons of alcohol-containing liquid, which was used to produce the abovementioned counterfeit beverages.

We additionally seized 318 000 boxes of excisable “KARELIA” cigarettes without excise marks from one of the warehouses located in close proximity to the factory. Technical equipment for packaging and producing cigarettes was also seized.

The estimated value of the seized excisable alcoholic beverages and cigarettes without excise marks, could reach tens of millions GEL, which will be finally determined by the relevant expert examination conducted on the case.

We continue to carry out operative and investigative activities to expose other individuals involved in the organized criminal activity.

Investigation is underway under the third part of Article 196 and the fourth part of Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which as a type and extent of sentence, envisage imprisonment from seven to ten years.