CHAIN-2 Operation Was Performed Against Illegal Alcoholic Beverage

In the year 2022, which we are preparing to leave behind, many uninterrupted, effective and successful operations were carried out against alcoholic drink smugglers by the KOM Presidency against groups that threaten human health by placing fake alcoholic beverages produced in under-the-counter workshops to the market in order to gain financial benefit.

By the KOM Presidency in 2021; 05.11.2021 alcoholic beverages smuggling operations were carried out, mainly the operations with the code name "ALKOL" on 15.12.2021, "POISON" on 20.12.2021, and "ZIHIR - 2" on 1.917. In these operations; 700.881 liters and 169.208 bottles of smuggled/fake alcoholic beverages were seized and 244 illegal alcoholic beverage factories were deciphered.

In 2022, 1.880 alcoholic beverage smuggling operations were carried out, especially the operation with the code name "CHAIN" and in these operations;

• 1.353.586 liter
• 314.054 bottles of illegal/fake alcoholic beverages were seized,
• 241 illegal alcoholic beverages were deciphered.

As a result of the effective work carried out by the KOM Units, the production and distribution chain of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, which cause death and serious health problems, was revealed.

In these operational studies, hundreds of thousands of liters of illegal/fake alcoholic beverages were seized and tax losses were prevented.

In the studies carried out by the KOM Presidency, the crime groups;

• In particular, they try to deliver the ethyl alcohol and aromas used in the production of fake alcoholic beverages to those who request it by cargo, and they try to hide their identities by giving wrong names to the cargo shipments,
• They are trying to put on the market under the name of disinfectant and surface cleaner,
• They resort to methods such as brand and label counterfeiting and counterfeit banderol,
• They collect the empty alcoholic drink bottles thrown in the trash and refill them with various methods,
• It has been determined that they are produced under conditions that are far from hygienic conditions and threaten human health.
• An operation with the code name "CHAIN-2" is carried out in order to end the criminal activities of these groups and to confiscate the illegal products they produce and sell.

Throughout the country, including 8 criminal groups operating in 12 provinces, in the operation; A search will be made at 590 addresses where illegal alcoholic beverages are produced, stored and kept ready for sale.

In accordance with the instructions received from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, 217 suspects have been detained so far in the operation where detention warrants were issued for 176 suspects.

Efforts to combat the smuggling of counterfeit/illegal alcoholic beverages that threaten public health, cause serious health problems and cause deaths will continue with determination.