The investigation Department of the Ministry of Finance has arrested the members of an organized crime gang - Mirian Makharadze and Merab Tsetskhladze in suspicion of smuggling on Georgia`s economic border.
According to the investigation, Makharadze offered a deal to a citizen of Georgia to assist him import car parts and textile products from Turkey by avoiding customs procedures. He travelled to Turkey, where he produced counterfeit invoices and managed to cross Georgia-Turkey border with the help of another detainee, Merab Tsetskhladze.
At the Batumi Registration Zone, Makharadze and Tsetskhladze reduced the price of the imported goods three times in a declaration inflicting serious damage to the state budget.
The officers detained both suspects in the moment when they were taking the promised 2,500 GEL from the citizen.
Preliminary investigation is underway; the detainees will be charged with article N214, which implies 3-5 year sentence.