As a result of operational-search measures and investigative actions carried out by officers of the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, in coordination with the Kvemo Kartli Regional Prosecutor’s Office, two Georgian citizens have been arrested for the large-scale production and use of counterfeit excise stamps by a group acting in prior conspiracy, as well as for the manufacture of counterfeit goods posing a threat to life and health.

The information was released by the Ministry of Finance of Georgia.

According to the ministry, the accused were producing vodka under various brand names at the office of LLC “Security Company Algani,” located at 6 Meskishvili Street in the city of Rustavi. They were also printing counterfeit excise stamps, which were used to label the alcoholic beverages, while the counterfeit products were sold at retail outlets and food establishments across the Kvemo Kartli region.

“Following searches of the office, a vehicle parked nearby, and retail outlets, law enforcement seized a total of 204 bottles of counterfeit alcoholic beverages under various brand names, including ‘Stolichnaya,’ ‘Nemiroff,’ ‘Black Sea,’ ‘Filandia,’ ‘Talka,’ ‘Koskenkorva Vodka,’ ‘Parliament,’ and ‘Gray Goose’; 402 empty bottles prepared for filling; materials required for bottling and producing alcohol; 1,053 counterfeit excise stamps; as well as computer equipment containing electronic files of the counterfeit excise stamps,” the statement reads.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 200¹, Part 2, and Article 197, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provide for a sentence of 5 to 7 years of imprisonment.

“The Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance continues investigative actions on an ongoing basis in order to seize counterfeit alcoholic beverages from retail outlets,” the statement concludes.