The Investigation Service of the Georgian Finance Ministry on Friday said its professionals had established a case of smuggling of “large quantities” of gold items across the country’s western border earlier this month.
The body said a group of Azerbaijani citizens had smuggled up to six kilograms of gold items worth ₾500,000 ($186,101) in customs value through the Sarpi border crossing point with Turkey.
It also noted the group had brought in the undeclared gold items in a truck, in circumvention of customs controls, with Azerbaijan as the ultimate destination of their run.
An investigation into the case is ongoing, the Service said, with the crime punishable by between five to seven years in prison.