In the Sortirovka district of Yekaterinburg, authorities uncovered a workshop manufacturing counterfeit alcohol. A local public figure, speaking to a virtual community outlet, confirmed that the discovery came after a coordinated inspection by regional security officials and internal affairs teams who investigated after arrests linked to a known dealer network. The crackdown highlights ongoing efforts to curb illegal alcohol supply chains and ensure public safety in the area.
According to the spokesperson, investigators moved with officials to industrial-zone facilities on Montazhnikov Street following the detention of a father-and-son pair previously convicted in connection with illicit alcohol sales. The arrests prompted a wider inquiry that traced sources and distribution points for the counterfeit products, with authorities outlining the steps taken to dismantle the operation.
Once detainees were questioned, they disclosed suppliers and distribution routes. This led investigators to the actual bottling site where counterfeit vodka and cognac were being produced on a manufacturing line. At the facility, authorities recovered approximately 6,500 bottles of alcohol along with the bottling equipment used to produce fake beverages. A nearby minibus transporting the illicit products was also seized, reinforcing the extent of the operation and the effort to disrupt it at multiple points in the supply chain.
Earlier, law enforcement teams reported halting another large counterfeit vodka production operation in a different city, underscoring a broader national focus on illegal alcohol activity and the dangers it poses to consumers.
In related political developments, a proposed bill was introduced in the State Duma that seeks to stiffen penalties for illegal alcohol trafficking, reflecting ongoing legislative interest in strengthening controls and deterrence against counterfeiting and smuggling activities.