Updated 03.31 | Published 03.10
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full screen A league sold adulterated wine – for millions. Archive image. Photo: Christophe Ena/AP/TT
Using copy labels and custom-made corks, the fraudsters sold counterfeit high-end red wine all over the world.
European police have now arrested several people suspected of, among other things, fraud.
The international fraud league is considered to have had a well-structured operation where red wines were counterfeited and sold on a continuous line. By, among other things, using printers in Italy, the group managed to recreate labels on French wines – worth up to SEK 170,000 per bottle – and sell the counterfeits worldwide.
In addition to the labels, corks were also custom-made. The wines were then delivered to an airport in Italy, from where they were taken abroad for sale.
In total, the league is estimated to have sold wine bottles for more than two million euros, i.e. approximately SEK 22.6 million, according to the EU authority Eurojust.
Through European cooperation, which includes French and Italian police, several people have now been arrested as a result of the trade in the rebranded wine. Among other things, a 40-year-old Russian man has been arrested, who is suspected of being the leader of the fraud network.
In raids in France and Italy, the police have found cash and luxury goods worth millions, belonging to the league.