Leicestershire counterfeit vodka plant closed down

A major counterfeit vodka manufacturing and bottling plant has been closed down in Leicestershire, resulting in the seizure of 10,000 litres of fake vodka branded as Glen's.

In a two day operation, more than 70 HM Revenue & Customs officers raided the site. Officers also confiscated more than 35,000 litres of pure alcohol - enough to make around 100,000 litres of vodka - plus manufacturing equipment including stills, bottles and counterfeit labels and cardboard boxes.
“It is believed this was a substantial production bottle and distribution plant with the infrastructure to distribute large quantities of counterfeit Glen’s vodka throughout the UK,” said HM Revenue & Customs in a statement.
It described the site as a “sophisticated operation” with the equipment to mix the vodka on site using pure alcohol and other chemicals. The bottles of vodka seized feature professionally printed labels, duty stamps and bottle tops - all of which are counterfeit.
“Analysis of a sample bottle show higher levels of methanol. In high quantities methanol can pose health risks,” it added.
So far, six men have been arrested and released on bail until January 2010. The operation was supported by Leicestershire Trading Standards.
The Food Standards Agency said that genuine Glen’s Vodka in 70cl bottles can be easily identified. It is only bottled in bottles supplied by Allied Glass Containers (AGC). This bottle has a small AGC logo on the base of the bottle with '58mm C12173' embossed in the glass, about 5mm from the base.
“Any bottle of Glen’s Vodka without this marking is counterfeit,” said the FSA. Bottles found, so far, that have been used for the counterfeit vodka have the following codes embossed in the glass: SE607 700ml 66mm; 8509 700ml 66mm; and 7828 700ml 66mm.