Georgian law enforcement seize gold jewellery worth ₾247,000 at Georgia-Turkey border

Georgian authorities have seized more than 1.2 kilograms of gold jewellery worth nearly 247,000 lari ($91,000) and arrested one person on suspicion of smuggling the items across the country's customs border, the Finance Ministry's Investigative Service said.

The seizure followed a joint operation by the Investigative Service, the Revenue Service's Customs Department and the Prosecutor General's Office.

According to investigators, the suspect, a Georgian citizen, attempted to bring 1,215.52 grams of gold jewellery into the country through the Sarpi border crossing with Turkey. The jewellery had allegedly been concealed inside various items in a vehicle driven by the suspect.

Authorities said the seized gold has an estimated customs value of 246,857 lari.

The offence carries a prison sentence of between five and seven years.