Investigation Service arrests man over smuggling of nearly 8kg of gold jewellery across customs border

Officers from the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, working together with the Customs Department of the Revenue Service and the Prosecutor General’s Office, have arrested a suspect following intelligence-led operations into large-scale customs smuggling.

According to the agency, operational intelligence led investigators to intercept a Georgian national entering the country through the Sarpi customs checkpoint on the Turkish border.

A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed nearly eight kilograms of gold jewellery concealed inside a specially modified spare car battery.

The customs value of the seized precious metal and jewellery amounts to nearly 1.7 million GEL.

An investigation has been launched under Article 214, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which addresses serious breaches of customs procedures in large-scale goods transportation. If convicted, the suspect faces five to seven years’ imprisonment.