An illegal alcohol bottling plant and 25,000 litres of counterfeit vodka have been seized by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester.
Fire crews attending a suspicious blaze at a warehouse on Honey Street late on Thursday, October 28, uncovered the illicit alcohol factory and called in other enforcement agencies. HMRC and local trading standards attended to investigate the excise duty scam.<br><br>HMRC officers seized about 25,000 litres of counterfeit alcohol, some bottled and ready for sale, along with a large amount of bottling and labelling equipment. The estimated duty evasion is more than £240,000.<br><br>Graham Forbes, HMRC Special Investigations said: “The fraudsters behind this crime have not only evaded duty and produced fake ‘UK excise duty paid’ stamps, but the vodka has been manufactured illegally, hi-jacking a well-known brand name and without any health and safety checks. It seems that alcohol was being handled and bottled at this site in very large quantities and in unhygienic conditions. Tests will be carried out by HMRC to check the alcohol content, but early indications suggest the premises may have been operating for some time and selling the fake product locally which is a real concern.”<br><br>David Bolt, Chief Executive of the International Federation of Spirits Producers Ltd, an industry-funded anti-counterfeiting body said: “Counterfeiters are opportunist criminals, who are out to cheat consumers and legitimate producers, and deprive the government of valuable tax revenue. The IFSP works closely with law enforcement agencies around the world to ensure spirits counterfeiters are caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. While the analysis of this counterfeit liquid has shown there is no reason to believe it is harmful to human health, this incident does show that counterfeit spirits are being produced in unregulated conditions which in no way reflect the stringent standards under which the industry manufactures spirits.”<br><br>Enquiries into the illegal bottling plant are continuing and anyone with information about the manufacture or sale of illegal alcohol in the Manchester area should call the Customs’ Hotline on 0800 59 5000.<br><br>Notes <br><br>Greater Manchester Police are investigating the fire at the warehouse. Officers were called at 11.45pm on Thursday 28 October 2010, to the premises on Honey Street, Strangeways, Manchester. A joint investigation into the cause of the fire has been launched with the fire service. Anyone with any information about the fire is asked to call police on 0161 872 5050 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.<br><br>More information about IFSP can be found at –
