Two arrests in Georgia over fake coffee, chocolates

Georgia’s Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance has detained to people on suspicion of illegally manufacturing and selling counterfeit products, including Jacobs Monarch instant coffee and Raffaello chocolates.

The two Georgina citizens are accused of operating a makeshift facility in Tbilisi and producing knock-off versions of the products, according to the Georgia Today news service. The actions are thought to have violated trademarks held by Dutch coffee producer Jacobs Douwe Egberts and Italian confectionery company Ferrero.

A search of the facility by enforcement agents resulted in the seizure of more than 10,000 counterfeit Jacobs Monarch coffee packets and over 2,400 fake Raffaello chocolates that were ready for sale, along with packaging and other production materials and equipment, according to the report.

Last month, the Investigative Service also carried out a crackdown on counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes lacking proper excise marks, including vodka brands Beluga, Belveder, Grey Goose, whiskey brands Borkan and Chivas Regal, and Karelia cigarettes.