Police in Omsk uncovered three stores in the city that had been selling industrial alcohol labelled as famous brands like Chivas Regal and Jim Beam, the Interior Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
According to preliminary information, earlier this month the Interior Ministry's economic security and anti-corruption units established that the stores had been selling bottles with diluted industrial alcohol under the guise of famous brands like Chivas Regal, Jim Beam and Red Label, Hennesy, and Sauza Gold tequila.
Industrial alcohol, or ethyl alcohol, is usually used in laboratories and factories for sanitation purposes.
The bottles had federal excise stamps with signs of forgery, police said. Testing carried out by forensic scientists in Omsk showed that the alcoholic beverages did not meet health standards.
Police are currently trying to establish the channels of delivery and storage location of the fake alcohol.
An investigation is under way.
A criminal case may be opened on charges of producing, storing, transporting and selling goods that do not meet safety standards. The charges carry a sentence of up to two years in prison.
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