Six individuals accused of selling low-quality wine as high-end vintages have been arrested in a major operation involving French, Italian, and Swiss authorities. The suspects were apprehended in Paris, Turin, and Milan, following an investigation that began in 2021, according to Europol.
The fraudulent wine, which was produced in Italy, was distributed globally after being exported from an Italian airport. Europol, which supported the investigation, said the wines were sold by unsuspecting traders who believed they were genuine. Some of the counterfeit bottles were sold for as much as €15,000 each.
The investigation was led by the French Gendarmerie, in collaboration with Italy’s Carabinieri Corps and the Swiss Federal Police. As part of the operation, authorities seized a wide array of evidence, including counterfeit wine bottles from renowned Grand Cru domains, wine labels, wax products, equipment for refilling and recapping bottles, luxury items, and electronic devices. The total value of the confiscated goods is estimated at €1.4 million, along with over €100,000 in cash.
French prosecutors estimate the group earned €2 million from counterfeiting French Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wines in Italy. The investigation also revealed sophisticated counterfeiting methods, although Europol has not disclosed specific details of the techniques used to replicate the high-end wines.
Authorities were able to link the current suspects to a previous wine counterfeiting case that was closed in 2015. The earlier investigation involved a Russian national who has now been tied to the ongoing scheme. Additionally, investigators identified connections between the production of counterfeit wine caps and labels in both Italy and Switzerland.
Wine fraud is a growing issue globally, as advancements in technology have made it easier for counterfeiters to replicate labels and packaging. In 2022, investigators in Bordeaux uncovered a scheme that involved passing off up to five million bottles of cheap Spanish wine as French. Similarly, a Taiwanese billionaire was recently accused of selling counterfeit wine in another high-profile case.
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of wine fraud operations and the challenges faced by authorities in combating such schemes.
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