State Security Service arrests two after horsemeat fraudulently supplied to kindergartens as beef

Officers from the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) have arrested two individuals on a court warrant, charging them with large-scale fraud and product adulteration.

According to the State Security Service, the case concerns the fraudulent delivery of horsemeat in place of beef to kindergartens across the Marneuli and Kareli municipalities.

“The investigation established that two companies, B.G.M.1 and Georgian Meat Products Farm, had won public tenders issued by the Marneuli Municipality Kindergarten Union and the Kareli Municipality Kindergarten Union to supply beef to early-learning facilities. In May 2026, the directors of these commercial entities fraudulently supplied horsemeat instead of beef to the kindergartens, thereby unlawfully appropriating substantial funds from the state budget.

The investigation is being conducted under Sub-paragraph ‘B’ of Part 3 of Article 180 and Part 1 of Article 197 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carry a potential sentence of six to nine years’ imprisonment,” the statement reads.