One arrested over sale of hazardous expired products, Finance Ministry

Investigators from Georgia’s Finance Ministry have arrested a Georgian citizen on suspicion of selling goods considered dangerous to life and health, following operational and investigative measures.

The ministry’s investigative service on Thursday said the inquiry established that during 2025 and 2026 the suspect purchased various branded products that had passed their expiry dates, which were originally intended for use as animal feed.

Investigators said the suspect altered the products’ expiry dates using a crudely manufactured stamp, before selling the goods from the yard of his home in the village of Kvemo Gurgeniani, in Lagodekhi municipality.

As part of planned undercover operations, investigators purchased expired branded products directly from the suspect, the service said.

Searches of the suspect’s residential property and vehicle led to the seizure of large quantities of expired branded products, the improvised stamp used to change expiry dates, and cash believed to have been obtained from the sale of the expired goods.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 198, Part One of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers the sale of goods posing a threat to life and health.