Investigation Service uncovers counterfeit alcohol operation in Tbilisi; one charged

Officers from the Investigation Service of the Georgian Ministry of Finance have uncovered a counterfeit alcohol manufacturing scheme in Tbilisi and formally charged one individual, the agency announced.

According to the Investigation Service, an investigation is underway under Article 197, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (falsification of products), which carries a penalty of one to three years’ imprisonment.

“The investigation established that, to derive illicit material gain, the accused produced counterfeit alcoholic beverages under crude, improvised conditions at their residential home using ethanol and various additives. A total of 97 bottles of counterfeit brandy bearing the ‘Sarajishvili’, ‘Askaneli’, and ‘Askaneli V.S.O.P. ’ brand names were manufactured. Following operational-investigative measures, the illicitly produced goods were seized as material evidence,” the Investigation Service statement reads.