HMRC Raids Fake Vodka Factory Near Lichfield
On February 1, HMRC stormed a commercial site near Lichfield and uncovered a stash of counterfeit vodka and full-on production gear. The illegal vodka operation was big enough to dodge a staggering £2.5 million in excise duty every year.
Hundreds of Fake Krackoff Bottles Seized
Officers found hundreds of fake Krackoff vodka bottles and massive tanks holding up to 7,000 litres of liquid. The haul also included:
- 241 full five-litre containers of ethanol
- 423 full 70cl bottles of Krackoff Triple Distilled Vodka
- 9,030 empty 70cl bottles
- 112 boxes of bottle tops
- 9 Intermediate 1,000-litre Bulk Containers (IBCs), 3 with ethanol
- 1,284 empty five-litre ethanol containers
HMRC dismantled the entire setup and confiscated all equipment.
Officials Crack Down on £1 Billion Alcohol Fraud
“The sale of illegal alcohol will not be tolerated by us or our partner agencies,” said Judith Rockett, Assistant Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service. “This criminal trade costs the UK around £1 billion a year and hurts taxpayers, businesses, and consumers who risk dangerous products. Anyone with info on tax fraud can contact HMRC online.”
Trading Standards Join the Fight
Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Trading Standards, warned:
“Fake and illegal alcohol is extremely harmful, causing lifelong disabilities. Our Trading Standards team works closely with partners to stop this dangerous trade. “We make regular checks on retailers and off-licenses to keep counterfeit booze off the shelves. If you suspect fake alcohol, call our confidential Fight the Fakes hotline on 01785 330356.”
Investigations are ongoing. No arrests have been made yet.
