The Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance has detained three individuals on charges of producing/storing a particularly large quantity of duty-free cigarettes.
As stated by Guga Tavberidze, Deputy Head of the Investigative Service’s Department, during today’s briefing, representatives of the Investigative Service seized 323,851 packs of duty-free “KARELIA” cigarettes with a market value of 2,176,341 GEL prepared for sale, along with cigarette production equipment and other essential products for production.
“As a result of operational-search activities and investigative actions conducted by employees of the Investigative Service, facts were uncovered regarding the production/storage of a particularly large quantity of duty-free cigarettes for subsequent sale by companies owned by V.M., a family member of the currently imprisoned former Defense Minister.
The investigation established that in 2023, V.M. founded companies and set up an illegal cigarette production factory in Gori, where he had been producing duty-free tobacco products for years.
On September 19, 2025, the following individuals were detained as accused in the case of production/storage of a particularly large quantity of duty-free cigarettes by an organized group: V.A., the founder of the illegal enterprise; M.A., the director; and N.Ts., the security chief of the same enterprise and a former member of the Defense Minister’s personal security detail.
As a result of investigative actions, 323,851 packs of duty-free “KARELIA” cigarettes with a market value of 2,176,341 GEL prepared for sale, cigarette production equipment, and other essential products for production were seized from the aforementioned factory and adjacent warehouse.
The investigation is ongoing under Parts 3 and 4 of Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for imprisonment from 7 to 10 years as a penalty.
The investigation into the case continues intensively to identify other individuals involved in the organized criminal activity for the purpose of prosecution,” Guga Tavberidze stated.
Investigative Service: Facts have been uncovered regarding the production/storage of a particularly large quantity of duty-free cigarettes by companies owned by V.M., a family member of the currently imprisoned former Defense Minister, for the purpose of subsequent sale
