Customs officers from the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, acting in coordination with investigators from the Ministry of Finance’s Investigation Service, have intercepted an attempt to smuggle an exceptionally large quantity of undeclared cigarettes across the Georgian border in violation of the law.

According to the Revenue Service, targeted operational measures and customs procedures revealed that a Belarus-registered heavy goods vehicle had crossed the Georgian border at the Red Bridge checkpoint. The accompanying transport documentation and cargo paperwork indicated that the lorry was laden with 290 metal doors, with the Czech Republic listed as the final destination.

“Following a risk assessment and analysis, the lorry in question was intercepted and directed to the customs control zone for a detailed physical inspection. Upon opening one of the doors, authorised officers discovered 1,496 packs of undeclared, duty-unpaid cigarettes hidden inside. A subsequent full inspection of the cargo revealed a total of 433,840 packs of various filter cigarette brands, specifically Menthol Queen, NZ, and MINSK. The total market value of the cigarettes subject to mandatory excise marking amounted to 2,429,504 GEL. The case files have been forwarded to the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance for further action,” stated the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance.