Finance Ministry Investigation Service detains 30 individuals in multiple criminal cases

Employees of the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, have detained 30 individuals across seven separate criminal cases, Deputy Head of the agency Guga Tavberidze said at a briefing.

According to Tavberidze, three cases involve illegal entrepreneurial activity related to the extraction and sale of minerals.

“The defendants were engaged in the extraction and sale of minerals in the regions of Shida Kartli, Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and Kakheti without the required permits and licenses, as well as in violation of license conditions,” he said.

Six individuals have been identified in connection with these offenses, four of whom have been arrested. Investigators estimate that a total of 1,500,327 cubic meters of minerals were illegally extracted, causing environmental damage amounting to 21,871,975 GEL.

The investigation is being conducted under Articles 192, 194, 210, 218 and 299 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to penalties ranging from 5 to 12 years in prison.

In addition, authorities uncovered multiple cases involving the fraudulent appropriation of state-owned land. According to the agency, the defendants illegally obtained 20,194 square meters of land, with a total value of 2,141,042 GEL. Procedures to return the land to state ownership are currently underway.

These cases are being investigated under Articles 180 and 362 of the Criminal Code, which pertain to prison sentences of 6 to 9 years.

The Investigation Service stated that work is ongoing to fully expose the criminal schemes and identify other individuals involved.