Employees of the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with representatives of the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance, detect the transportation through Georgia of excise goods subject to mandatory excise marking, specifically cigarettes transported without the required excise stamps.

Employees of the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, in coordination with representatives of the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance, detected the transportation through Georgia of excise goods subject to mandatory excise-stamp marking, specifically cigarettes transported without the required excise stamps.

As a result of operational measures and comprehensive customs procedures, it was established that the driver of a truck registered in Belarus and engaged in international freight transportation had crossed the state border of Georgia through the Red Bridge Customs Checkpoint.

According to the transport documentation and other accompanying documents, the truck was declared as carrying two types of rubber flooring tiles intended for sports surfaces, with the Czech Republic indicated as the final destination. Following a risk assessment and analysis, the truck was stopped and directed to the customs control zone for a subsequent detailed inspection.

Upon inspection and opening of the contents of transit cargo placed on pallets, authorised officials discovered 202 176 packs of undeclared, unstamped cigarettes of various brands, which had been concealed among the cargo, including "NZ," "MINSK", and "Queen Menthol". The total market value of the cigarettes, which were subject to mandatory excise marking, amounted to GEL 1 132 185. The case materials were forwarded to the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance for further action.