Turkey Arrests 46 Individuals in Nationwide Crackdown on Counterfeit Alcohol

Ankara, Jan 9 (NationPress) A total of 46 individuals were apprehended in the past week during extensive operations throughout Turkey targeting producers of counterfeit alcohol, announced Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Thursday.

The initiative, known as 'Hook-16', was carried out by gendarmerie teams who conducted raids on four illicit alcohol manufacturing facilities involved in the smuggling and creation of fake alcoholic beverages, Yerlikaya shared on the social media platform X, without indicating the exact timing of the operations.

Authorities successfully confiscated 50,105 liters of counterfeit and ethyl alcohol, in addition to 4,000 counterfeit tax stamps during these operations, he stated.

The raids were prompted by a notable increase in cases of counterfeit alcohol poisonings in Turkey in the weeks leading up to the New Year.

With the cost of legitimate alcoholic drinks remaining elevated, illegal alcohol has flourished in Turkey, providing an avenue for criminal organizations to profit from smuggling illicit beverages. These unauthorized producers frequently resort to cheaper and more hazardous substances, contributing to a rising number of fatalities related to counterfeit alcohol consumption in recent years.

Last month, the Istanbul Governor's Office disclosed that since the start of November, 37 individuals had succumbed to poisoning from counterfeit alcohol in the city.

The statement, reported by Xinhua news agency, indicated that 73 individuals had suffered from counterfeit alcohol poisoning during this timeframe, with 17 requiring hospitalization for treatment.

"In the investigations linked to alcohol poisoning incidents, legal action was initiated against 36 suspects who had supplied counterfeit alcohol," the office stated, adding that 14 of the suspects had been detained.

The Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Branch of the Istanbul Police Department has been actively targeting the production and distribution of counterfeit alcohol. The police have confiscated substantial quantities of fake alcoholic beverages, as well as banderoles, labels, and other materials used in the manufacture of counterfeit alcohol.

Consequently, 32 businesses have been penalized for their involvement in the illegal production and distribution of these counterfeit goods.