As a result of operative-searching and investigative activities carried out by the representatives of Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, facts of manufacturing/storage of particularly large quantities of excisable cigarettes without excise marks for subsequent sale by companies belonging to V.M. - a family member of the former Minister of Defense, who is currently in detention, have been detected.

Investigation determined that, in 2023, V.M. established companies and set up an illegal factory in the city of Gori, where he had been manufacturing excisable cigarettes without excise marks, for many years.

On September 19, 2025, on the fact of the manufacturing/storage of particularly large quantities of excisable cigarettes without excise marks by an organized group, the following accused individuals were detained: the founder of the illegal enterprise, citizen V.A., director M.A. and head of security at the same enterprise, member of the former Minister of Defense"s personal bodyguard - N.T.

As a result of investigative activities, at the abovementioned factory and the warehouse located in close proximity to it, 323 851 boxes of excisable cigarettes "KARELIA" without excise marks, prepared for sale and having the market value of GEL 2 176 341, were seized. Technical equipment for producing cigarettes and other products necessary for production were also seized.

Investigation is underway under the third and fourth parts of Article 200 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which as a type of sentence, envisages imprisonment from seven to ten years.

Investigation on the case continues intensively to identify and expose other individuals involved in the organized criminal activity.