Officials from the European Union’s (EU) anti-fraud unit OLAF –  l’Office Européen de Lutte Anti-Fraude – have revealed to just-drinks how an international EU customs operation seized 6,400 litres of counterfeit and smuggled alcohol.

The unit said that the operation – codenamed ‘Matthew II’ – was organised by the Czech Republic, working closely with Poland and OLAF.

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Earlier this week, OLAF told just-drinks of two major seizures within Romania: one truck was illicitly carrying 1,410 litres of Curtea Taichii, Romulus, and Floredan branded alcoholic drinks, with another found to be smuggling 1,329 litres of alcohol of various flavours.

Another 880 litres of undocumented alcohol was found in a Romanian private car, while, separately, 918 litres and 418 litres were seized from two private cars in the Czech Republic. Two more Czech hauls netted 675 litres of smuggled Tuzemak rum, and 200 litres of Reftyfikowany vodka – both from private cars. There were also seizures in Poland and Sweden.

“Operations like these show just how important EU customs (teams) are,” said EU taxation Commissioner Algirdas Semeta.

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