SuppliedA raid on an illegal alcohol distillery has found over 400 litres of suspected counterfeit vodka.
HMRC officers, assisted by Police Scotland, searched a unit on an industrial estate in Greenock, Inverclyde, on Tuesday.
They discovered multiple pallets of empty 70cl bottles and two stills – equipment used in the distillation process.
The search process also uncovered several plastic intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) containing around 12,000 litres of suspected industrial spirit.
Investigations are continuing into the illegal operation and no arrests have yet been made.
Joe Hendry, assistant director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “HMRC and our partners will not tolerate the sale of illegal alcohol.
“Drinking counterfeit alcohol can be a huge risk to health and even cause death.
“Disrupting criminal trade is at the heart of our strategy to clamp down on the illicit alcohol market which costs the UK around £1bn per year. This is theft from the taxpayer and undermines legitimate traders.”
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