Employees of the Environmental Supervision Department of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture have uncovered facts of illegal sand and gravel mining in Guria, Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Lower Kartli.
Lawbreakers illegally obtained about 400 cubic meters of sand and gravel in the municipalities of Ozurgeti, Samtredia, Kazbegi, and Marneuli using special equipment.
Relevant documentation has been made against lawbreakers. Case materials containing criminal offenses will be sent to the appropriate authorities.
Prevention, detection, and fact-finding about illegal use of natural resources is a priority for the Department of Environmental Supervision.
Departmental crews carry out 24-hour continuous patrolling throughout the country and respond immediately to each message received on the Ministry’s hotline (153). As a result, in 2025, from January 1 to December 31, the Department has revealed 141 facts of illegal mining of sand and gravel. They contain 47 facts about criminal offenses. The amount of damage caused to the environment as a result of law violations exceeds 2.5 million GEL.
Patrolling and urgent response staff of the Department of Environmental Supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture have identified cases of illegal sand and gravel extraction in Guria, Imereti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Kvemo Kartli.
In the municipalities of Ozurgeti, Samtredia, Kazbegi, and Marneuli, offenders illegally extracted approximately 400 cubic meters of sand and gravel using specialized equipment.
Relevant legal documentation has been prepared against the offenders. Case materials containing elements of a criminal offense will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further legal proceedings.
The prevention, detection, and suppression of illegal use of natural resources remains a priority for the Environmental Supervision Department. The Department’s patrol units conduct continuous 24-hour monitoring across the country and respond promptly to every report received through the Ministry’s hotline (153).
As a result, between January 1 and December 31, 2025, the Department identified 141 cases of illegal sand and gravel extraction, 47 of which contain elements of a criminal offense. The total environmental damage caused by these violations exceeds GEL 2.5 million.
