Police bust counterfeit alcohol gang in Yunnan

Police in Yunnan province's Shuangjiang county have made massive seizures in a major counterfeit alcohol case, obtaining 161,722 bottles of fake spirits with a value of 530 million yuan ($74 million), the largest such action taken recently to crack down on intellectual property crimes related to liquor in the province.

The investigation began on Dec 29, 2021, when the Shuangjiang police found 555 boxes of fake trademark liquor totaling 6,660 bottles worth more than 10 million yuan at a logistics hub in the county.

The discovery led to a yearlong investigation to catch the criminal gang behind the counterfeit liquor, joined by multiple police departments in the city of Lincang, which administrates Shuangjiang. The investigation ended up catching five suspects, busting their criminal den and confiscating machines for making counterfeit alcohol, bottle caps and packaging boxes. They also seized one van used to transport the phony products.

"The case involves many brands, and well-known alcohol brands are the most affected. The level of simulation and resemblance is high, and the sales network of the gang is complex," a police officer involved in the case said.

In April, the five suspects were sentenced to prison terms and fined for selling counterfeit alcohol with fake trademarks. On June 3, Shuangjiang police incinerated the fake alcohol, bringing the case to a closure after over a year of work.