Thessaloniki police bust bootleg liquor racket

Two men were arrested in the northern port city of Thessaloniki over the weekend on charges of running a contraband alcohol racket.

Investigators said that a company owned by one of the two suspects, aged 49, and which officially traded in detergents, had been transformed into a contraband alcohol bottling unit.

The illegal operation allegedly involved the substitution of labels on Bulgaria-made bottles of alcohol with labels of well-known alcohol brands.

The drinks were allegedly imported by the second suspect, aged 58.

Police have confiscated 1,974 bottles and numerous other consumer products that were not registered. It is not known if the alcohol was made available in bars and clubs around the city.

Police have also notified the government’s financial crimes squad.