The Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia has confiscated an unprecedented number of 75,137 bottles of alcoholic beverages and 318,000 boxes of excisable cigarettes lacking proper excise marks. Seven individuals linked to the operation have been detained.
Authorities discovered that the suspects had operated an illegal factory for several years, producing and bottling both Georgian and foreign branded alcoholic beverages in a handicraft manner. Among the seized products were vodka brands Beluga, Belveder, Grey Goose and whiskey brands Borkan and Chivas Regal, all prepared for sale without excise stamps.
During searches of the facility, officials also found a large number of bottles, corks, labels and packaging materials used for production, along with approximately 24 tons of alcohol-containing liquid intended for counterfeit beverages.
In addition, 318,000 boxes of excisable Karelia cigarettes without excise marks were recovered from a nearby warehouse, together with technical equipment for packaging and production.
The estimated value of the seized products could reach tens of millions of GEL, waiting for expert evaluation. The case is being investigated under the third part of Article 196 and the fourth part of Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry potential sentences ranging from seven to ten years of imprisonment.
