Four representatives of company Smile Travel Georgia have been arrested for large-scale fraud after allegedly embezzling around GEL 1 million from nearly 200 citizens. The case is under the supervision of the Anti-Fraud Department of the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the investigation revealed that in 2024–2025, the accused collected substantial sums of money from individuals under the pretense of organizing foreign trips, which were never fulfilled. As a result, hundreds of customers were left without their planned vacations and lost significant amounts of money.
Deputy Prosecutor Shota Tkeshelashvili stated that several dozen victims have already been identified, but the investigation is ongoing to uncover additional individuals affected by the fraudulent scheme. He noted that both the number of victims and the total financial loss are expected to increase as the inquiry continues.
The defendants have been charged under Parts 2 and 3 of Article 180 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, fraud involving large amounts, which carries a sentence of up to nine years in prison. The court has ordered pre-trial detention for the accused. The Prosecutor’s Office emphasized that investigating and preventing fraud remains one of its top priorities and that a strict criminal justice policy will continue to be applied in similar cases.
