Fake vodka bottles, equipment seized in South Africa

The authorities in South Africa have busted what appears to be a major operation involved in the production of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, including bottles of Smirnoff 1818 brand vodka.

A raid by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation – also known as the Hawks – was carried out on October 25 at an address in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal Province, and seized a number of machines used to manufacture counterfeit Smirnoff 1818 bottles worth "millions of rands," according to the unit. The Smirnoff brand is owned by UK company Diageo.

The seizure was the result of an investigation initiated on October 15. When the Hawks received information about a container detained at a depot in Durban, that allegedly contained counterfeit Smirnoff bottles, closures and stickers.

Based on further intelligence, the Hawks heard that the container was destined for the address on Ogilvie Road in Howick.

A search of the premises revealed a range of sophisticated machines used in the production of counterfeit Smirnoff 1818 bottles, including a bottle blowing machine, high-pressure air compressor, evaporating temperature machine, industrial chiller and fine compressor air filters, as well as various sizes of counterfeit bottles of the vodka brand. No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation continues. 

According to figures from the Drinks Federation of South Africa, illicit alcohol accounts for 18 per cent of all alcohol consumed in the country, up 55 per cent in the last seven years, and the trade costs the economy over R16.5bn (around $375m) a year in lost taxes.

Fale alcohol fuels organised crime, harms legitimate businesses, and can be deadly for consumers, as counterfeits can contain chemicals like methanol that can put health at serious risk from complications like blindness and organ failure.