A shop has lost its drinks licence after police found illicit vodka having 150,000 times more industrial alcohol than allowed.
The raid also uncovered 190 illegal medical products, 62 bottles of non-duty paid spirits and five bottles of Krackoff Vodka.
The shop Zabka in Lincoln had its licence revoked after a hearing before the city council Licensing Sub-Committee.
The owners have 21 days to appeal.
Sergeant Kim Enderby from the Alcohol Licensing Department said:
“The revocation of this premises licence sends a strong message from Lincoln City Council, that this sort of activity at licensed stores will not be tolerated.
“The fake Vodka was branded as Krackoff Vodka.
“Tests indicated it contained industrial alcohol and was unfit for human consumption.
“If anyone sees or has bought this particular product, they should contact the police or trading standards.”
Zabka in Lincoln
Sergeant Kim Enderby added:
“Other brands seized were genuine but paying duty on them had been avoided.
“None of these products would have been available from a legitimate wholesaler; they are distributed by criminal gangs via the illegal black market.
“Alongside the alcohol we seized, were a large amount of foreign branded medicines on sale.
“We seized 190 packets, some of which proved to be prescription only products in the UK and should have only been available from a pharmacy.
“The store potentially put the health of its customers at risk, as well as gaining unfair advantage over neighbouring legitimate stores.
“The owner claimed all the alcohol was for personal use and that he did not know the medicines were illegal.
“He told the committee that the medicines were purchased off an unknown male who came to his store.
“He displayed a lack of knowledge of his responsibilities within the Licensing Act and the committee believed he presented a risk to promoting the licensing objectives.
“We remain committed to the disruption, investigation and prosecution of all criminal behaviour being conducted on our licensed premises.”
