Adulterated liquor syndicate smashed
POSTED: 02 May 2013 12:03 PM
Police have rounded up 14 people for their suspected involvement in the making and distribution of adulterated liquor.
Adulterated liquor (photo: Singapore Police Force)
SINGAPORE: Police have rounded up 14 people for their suspected involvement in the making and distribution of adulterated liquor.
The 12 men and two women are between 37 and 57 years old. They include the syndicate leader, his runners and the production crew.
Police also raided a production facility, two distribution outlets, a storage place and a retail outlet located at Woodlands Industrial Park, Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, Hougang, Aljunied Road and Beach Road.
They seized some 520 bottles and 65 jerrycans of adulterated liquor as well as related counterfeit accessories and production equipment.
All the items amounted to an estimated street value of more than S$336,000.
Police said the liquor infringed the trade marks of renowned brands. They added that such adulterated liquor also harms the health of consumers.
Superintendent Teo Cheow Beng, head of the Criminal Investigation Department's Intellectual Property Rights Branch, said: "Adulterated liquor not only hurts the interests of legitimate companies but also harms the health of consumers. Police take a serious view of such syndicated piracy and will pursue all available leads to clamp down on offenders."
If convicted, the suspects could be fined up to S$100,000 and jailed up to five years.
- CNA/ir