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HOMAI Anti-Counterfeiting News

Dec 24, 2011

State Excise seized illicit liquor worth Rs 6.5 lakh

Excise M G Patil said, "The raids revealed that smuggling of liquor to Maharashtra from Goa and Daman has intensified during this period. The accused procure empty scotch bottles from scrap dealers and fill them with IMFL. They even use colouring agents, glucose powder and essence to make the liquor similar to the original in taste and appearance." Patil said, "In the first case, scotch brands like Blue Label, Black Label and Chivas Regal were seized. We learnt that the scotch was original and had been procured from a duty free shop in Sri Lanka. Small quantities of the original scotch was to be spiked with IMFL and filled in genuine scotch bottles." While making the fake scotch, the accused also kept in mind the crystal balls that are fitted in caps of certain scotch bottles. In the raids, boxes of such crystal balls were also seized. Officers suspect that the three gangs have already distributed large quantities of the spurious booze in the market, and that the liquor could be injurious to health. "The fake scotch could be harmful if consumed, as the genuine stuff has been spiked with several ingredients other than liquor," said an excise official requesting anonymity. Investigations are under way, he added. Source: epapertimesofindia.com

Mumbai, India: Following a series of tip-offs in the last fortnight, state excise officials swooped down three gangs and conducted raids on their premises in south Mumbai. In the first raid on a rented godown at Carnac Bunder, officers seized a large quantity of fake scotch including Blue Label, Black Label and Chivas Regal, besides premium vodka and top brands of wine. At the godown, the officers also seized a liquor bottling unit, a sealing machine and other material required for adulteration of the scotch with IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor). Two people, identified as Bhagwan Chabriya and Rajesh Parajpati. were arrested in the raid. In the second raid carried out at Fort last week, excise officials seized 40,000 duplicate caps meant for resealing bottles once

filled with fake scotch. Three persons - Pradip Kutappa, Santosh Nair and Ibrahim Khan - were arrested. In the third raid near Crawford Market, officers nabbed two persons in possession of dozens of bottles of IMFL which had been brought from Goa. The IMFL was to be used for spiking genuine scotch. Those arrested were identified as Faiyaz Qureshi and Shakeel Khan. Two dozen top brands of scotch, some top quality French wine brands like Ayala and Glenmorangie, Vodka brands like Absolut and Belvedere, and beer brands from China were part of the seizure. While the seized liquor is collectively valued around Rs 6 .5 lakh, the cost of the 600 empty scotch bottles is being evaluated. Altogether seven people have been arrested in the three raids while four are still absconding. Explaining the modus operandi, Deputy Superintendent of State