The Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance says that four people have been arrested on charges of “illegal business activities” and money laundering. The case is related to the extraction of inert materials from the Mtkvari River.
In addition to the four detainees, charges have also been filed against three other individuals and three legal entities in the same case. Investigators say that the suspects were systematically extracting inert materials from the Mtkvari River in the Kvemo Kartli region without a license and later distributing them to other businesses.
“Illegal extraction of 343,608 cubic meters of inert material was carried out, with a value of GEL 2,138,771,” the Financial Police said.
The agency estimates that the environmental damage caused amounted to GEL 2,235,507.
“In addition, the defendants legalized illegal income of GEL 2,138,771 obtained as a result of their unlawful activities,” the agency said. The detainees face between 9 and 12 years in prison.
