Investigation Service arrests four over illegal entrepreneurial activities and money laundering

Officers from the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, working in cooperation with the Kvemo Kartli Regional Prosecutor’s Office, have arrested four individuals on charges of illegal entrepreneurial activities and money laundering. Additionally, charges have been formally brought against three further individuals and three legal entities in connection with the same criminal case.

According to the agency, the investigation established that the defendants systematically extracted inert materials (gravel and sand) from the Mtkvari River in the Kvemo Kartli region without the requisite licence. They subsequently sold the materials to various commercial enterprises.

The investigation further revealed that 343,608 cubic metres of inert materials were illegally extracted, with a market value amounting to GEL 2,138,771. Environmental damage resulting from these actions totalled GEL 2,235,507.

Furthermore, the defendants laundered the GEL 2,138,771 in illicit revenue obtained through their unlawful activities.

The investigation is being conducted under Sub-paragraph “a”, Part 2 of Article 192, and Sub-paragraphs “a” and “c”, Part 3 of Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry a potential sentence of 9 to 12 years’ imprisonment.