Prison For Fake Vodka Gang 'Chemist'

The 'chemist' at the middle of a conspiracy to manufacture fake vodka from a remote farm in Leicestershire, has been jailed today for two years.

Wojciech Jan Herbst, is the sixth and final member of the gang to be jailed for his part in the scam. Five other men were sentenced last year (25 November 2011) for their role in the plot, following the successful investigation by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Herbst, from Poland, made the denatured alcohol (methylated spirits) clear before it was diluted and bottled and passed off as genuine product. Forensic analysis showed it was unfit for human consumption.

Simon De Kayne, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC, said: "This was a substantial production, bottling and distribution plant on an industrial scale. His gang would have known they were putting this highly toxic product into a bottle for human consumption.

"However, they were only interested in lining their pockets, with no regard for the health of consumers or the safety of those working at the unit or for the local environment. The revenue loss to public finances was £1.5 million."

The investigation by HMRC uncovered the unregulated and fire hazardous industrial unit at Moscow Farm, near Great Dalby, during raids in September 2009. They seized nine thousand bottles of fake vodka, branded as Glen’s, 25,000 litres of pure denatured alcohol (enough to make around 100,000 bottles of vodka), manufacturing equipment, bottles and counterfeit packaging – labels and cardboard boxes.

Evidence showed around 165,000 bottles of the fake vodka had been distributed across the UK for sale.

Denatured alcohol such as methylated spirit is coloured purple to distinguish it from drinkable alcohol and is not fit for human consumption. It is used as a solvent and contains hundreds of additives.

(GK)