Major fake vodka plant raided

A major counterfeit vodka plant in Leicestershire has been broken up following two days of raids by customs officers.

Six men were arrested in the raids, four from Nottingham, one from Doncaster and one from Weston-Super-Mare.

Around 70 officers took part in the operation, which resulted in the seizure of 10,000 litres of fake vodka, branded as Glens. Manufacturing equipment including stills, bottles and counterfeit packaging was also found.

Over 35,000 litres of pure alcohol were also seized, enough to make around 100,000 litres of vodka. The potential revenue loss to the public purse on yesterday's haul is over £1m.

Andrew Pavlinic, assistant chief investigation officer for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), said: "The success of this operation is a result of our determined efforts to disrupt and dismantle the illegal supply of alcohol."

The action follows an investigation into a suspected illegal alcohol manufacturing operation based at a farm near Little Dalby, Leicestershire.

Initial findings indicate a sophisticated operation with the equipment to mix the vodka on site using pure alcohol and other chemicals. The bottles have professionally printed labels, duty stamps and bottle tops - all of which are counterfeit.

HMRC believes the site had an infrastructure to distribute large quantities of counterfeit Glen's vodka throughout the UK.

The six men arrested have been released on bail until January 2010.

The operation was supported by Leicestershire Trading Standards.