Clandestine Lines of Counterfeit Alcoholic Beverages, unmasked by Police and Public Prosecutor’s Office

Five clandestine lines of counterfeit alcoholic beverages in large amounts were unmasked and documented by the investigations officers of Ciocana PI, Chisinau Police Department jointly with Ciocana Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to information gathered from investigations, the illegal activities of bottling cognac and other alcoholic beverages were conducted and coordinated by five men, aged between 35 and 42 years, being camouflaged in various stores in Chisinau and several suburbs. The ultimate goal was to sell large quantities of counterfeit drinks in the markets and shops in the capital, in the absence of binding product quality certification acts, thus endangering the life and health of consumers.

Respectively in the searches authorized and carried out to the addresses indicated, the policemen found and seized quantities of over 1 200 liters of ethyl alcohol, strong alcoholic beverages in assortment, sparkling wines, chemical dyes, all accessories to bottle drinks, special bottling equipment, draft documents on the proceeds from the illegal sales and other evidence that showed interest in the investigation proceedings.

In this context, all evidence detected were seized and stored until the appropriate decision of the court on the destruction of counterfeit beverages. At the same time, the policemen initiated a criminal charge for transportation, storage or sale of excisable goods without marking them with control or excise stamps. The suspects can be punished by a fine of 20 000 lei to 30 000 lei with the confiscation of goods. Further investigation actions are also carried out in order to identify other accomplices in these fraudulent networks of counterfeit alcoholic beverages in assortment.

Source: http://politiacapitalei.md/.