# Smuggling and customs offences — lawyer in Georgia We defend individuals and companies in cases of breaking the rules for moving goods across Georgia's customs border — from ordinary goods to jewellery and cultural heritage. - Confidential - Georgian · English · Russian - Free first consultation - Courts of all instances Moving a large amount of goods across the customs border past customs control, secretly, with a false document or with false data in the customs declaration is a crime (Article 214). A large amount means a customs value over GEL 15,000, an especially large amount over GEL 25,000; for goods hidden in a cache or brought by crossing the border illegally, the thresholds are GEL 5,000 and GEL 15,000. So in these cases the key is often the correct customs valuation of the goods: below the threshold, the act is usually no longer a crime. ## Penalties under Article 214 - Large amount — a fine or 3 to 5 years in prison - Especially large amount — a fine or 5 to 7 years - Cultural heritage, precious-metal jewellery — a fine or 4 to 7 years - Weapons, explosives or other dangerous substances — 5 to 8 years - Repeatedly, by an official, with violence or as a group — 8 to 11 years; by an organised group — 11 to 15 years ## Our services - Defence against smuggling charges - Checking the customs valuation - False declaration cases - Getting seized goods and vehicles back - Jewellery and cultural heritage - Customs disputes for companies ## Questions & answers ### Is every customs violation a crime? No. Criminal liability requires a large amount — a customs value over GEL 15,000 (over GEL 5,000 for goods in a cache). Smaller violations are usually dealt with in a different way. ### I forgot to declare gold jewellery — what happens? Moving precious-metal jewellery in breach of the rules is punished under a separate part of Article 214. The circumstances matter a lot — contact a lawyer straight away. ### What is the penalty for smuggling? For a large amount — a fine or 3 to 5 years; with aggravating circumstances — up to 15 years. ## Legal basis - [Criminal Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/16426) - [Tax Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/1043717) Official texts (in Georgian) — Legislative Herald of Georgia, matsne.gov.ge. ## Related topics - [#Criminal law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - [#Business](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corporate-lawyer/) - - [Economic crime lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/economic-crime-lawyer/) - - [Fraud lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/fraud-lawyer/) - - [Money laundering defence lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/money-laundering-lawyer/) - - [Tax lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/tax-lawyer/) - - [Criminal defence lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) - - [Cybercrime lawyer](https://mmlaw.ge/en/cybercrime-lawyer/) - - [Juvenile lawyer in Georgia: legal help for minors](https://mmlaw.ge/en/juvenile-justice-lawyer/) - - [Detained in Georgia? Your rights and what to do](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/what-to-do-if-detained/) Practice areas ## Other practice areas - [Criminal defense](https://mmlaw.ge/en/criminal-defense-lawyer/) — Defense at every stage — from investigation and arrest to trial and appeal. - [Drug offences](https://mmlaw.ge/en/drug-crime-lawyer/) — Defence in cases of buying, possessing, selling and importing drugs — and against fines and administrative detention. - [Cybercrime](https://mmlaw.ge/en/cybercrime-lawyer/) — Defense in cybercrime cases and help for victims of online fraud, hacked accounts and blackmail. - [Property crimes](https://mmlaw.ge/en/property-crime-lawyer/) — Defence in theft, robbery, fraud, extortion, embezzlement and misappropriation cases. - [Economic crimes](https://mmlaw.ge/en/economic-crime-lawyer/) — Defence against tax evasion, money laundering, customs and other economic charges. - [Corruption and official crimes](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corruption-crime-lawyer/) — Defence in bribery, trading in influence and abuse of official power cases. - [Violent crimes](https://mmlaw.ge/en/violent-crime-lawyer/) — Defence in assault, bodily injury, threats and homicide cases — including self-defence. - [Juvenile justice](https://mmlaw.ge/en/juvenile-justice-lawyer/) — Specialised representation of minors, focused on their rights and future. - [Civil litigation](https://mmlaw.ge/en/civil-litigation-lawyer/) — Contract, property and damages disputes — negotiated or argued in court. - [Administrative law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/administrative-law-lawyer/) — Challenging decisions of public bodies, fines, permits and licences. - [Labor disputes](https://mmlaw.ge/en/employment-lawyer/) — Unlawful dismissal, unpaid wages and employment contracts — for employees and employers. - [Corporate law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corporate-lawyer/) — Company formation, contracts, compliance and shareholder matters. - [Real estate](https://mmlaw.ge/en/real-estate-lawyer/) — Due diligence, purchase agreements, registration and property disputes. - [Family law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/family-lawyer/) — Divorce, custody, alimony and division of property — handled with discretion. - [Inheritance](https://mmlaw.ge/en/inheritance-lawyer/) — Accepting an inheritance, the certificate of inheritance, wills and disputes between heirs. - [Intellectual property](https://mmlaw.ge/en/intellectual-property-lawyer/) — Trademarks, copyright and protection of your creative and business assets. --- Source: https://mmlaw.ge/en/smuggling-and-customs-lawyer/ · MMLAW · +995 551 00 43 00 · info@mmlaw.ge