Pakistan police seal fake soft drink production plant

Authorities in Pakistan have sealed a beverage production plant where more than 4,500 bottles of fake soft drinks were found.

A raid by police and health authorities on the plant in Karachi in southern Pakistan discovered a large-scale counterfeiting operation. More than 4,500 1.5 litre bottles of counterfeit drinks were packaged up into cartons of six for sale and the plant had capacity to produce much more.

More than 10,000 bottle tops with various brand names were found, Khalid Randhawa, district health officer, told local publication The News. Authorities also seized four bags of fake labels and enough empty bottles, concentrate and flavours to produce more than 10,000 drinks.

The factory is now sealed and the owner is under arrest. Authorities raided the house in Hazara Colony, a slum settlement, after receiving a tip off from an informant. As recently as 2010 local residents protested against a lack of drinking water in the district.